The Vietnamese Embassy in India, in collaboration with India’s National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and the Centre for Vietnamese Studies, held a seminar with the theme “India-Viet Nam Maritime Cooperation: Exploring Convergences” in New Delhi on 23 April.

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau (C) speaks at the seminar (Source: VNA)

The seminar aimed to define potential cooperation fields between the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau underlined the growing Viet Nam-India partnership as well as the necessity to intensify cooperation through different methods, including stepping up maritime collaboration.

NMF Director Pradeep Chauhan said Viet Nam is an important partner in India’s Act East policy.

There are various convergences on geo-politics between the two countries not only on the East Sea, but also in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.

He also pointed out shortcomings in bilateral maritime connectivity that need to be resolved to maximise cooperation potential.

Participating scholars said the two countries can achieve many geo-economic targets through mutually-beneficial maritime economic activities such as developing fisheries sustainably, exploring and exploiting oil and gas and boosting marine biotechnology.

They also stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in weather warning, positioning, search and rescue, humanitarian aid and disaster relief to ensure maritime security and safety.

(Source: VNA)