INDIA - VIETNAM RELATIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India and Vietnam today signed nine agreements to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of customs, agriculture, legal, radio and television broadcast, culture, and tourism.

India - Vietnam Relations

• Historical Relations: India and Vietnam share a deep historical bond, both having fought against colonial rule. Mahatma Gandhi and Ho Chi Minh led their nations to independence, symbolizing their shared struggle against colonialism.
• Strategic Partnership: India and Vietnam aim to enhance their strategic partnership in alignment with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific to promote regional security and prosperity.
• Economic Cooperation: Trade and economic relations have flourished, particularly since the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. India recognizes Vietnam's significant growth and potential, focusing on sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering. Bilateral trade reached USD 11.12 billion in FY 2020-2021.
• Defence Cooperation: It is a cornerstone of the partnership, including regular Indian naval visits, joint naval exercises, and the provision of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) slots. Recent agreements aim to enhance defence capabilities and mutual logistics support.

o VINBAX-2023: To enhance collaborative partnerships, promote interoperability, and share best practices between the Indian and Vietnamese armed forces.

o China Factor: Both India and Vietnam, having faced conflicts with China, align strategically to counter China’s aggressive actions and assertiveness in their respective regions.

• Science and Technology: Cooperation in science and technology is marked by agreements on space exploration, IT, cyber security, and atomic energy. 

o Notable collaborations include agricultural research and partnerships between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership and Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute.

• Cultural Relations: Cultural ties are highlighted by events like the Buddhist Festival organized to commemorate diplomatic milestones. The Indian community in Vietnam, estimated at 2,900, is active and engaged through organizations like the Indian Business Chamber (INCHAM).