India to help enhance Vietnamese military capabilities

Hanoi, Oct 13 (PTI) In an effort to boost bilateral
defence ties, India and Vietnam on Wednesday announced a slew
of measures, including joint army training in mountain and
jungle warfare and cooperation in upgrading Hanoi's military
capabilities, specially of its Navy.
A day after the First ASEAN Plus Eight Defence Ministers
(ADMM) meeting here in which China and US too participated,
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony held talks with top
Vietnamese leadership during which these measures were
decided.
Antony met Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Defence
Minister Gen Phung Quang Thanh here, among the top Vietnamese
leaders.
At the bilateral meetings, the two sides decided that
India would provide support to Vietnam "to enhance and
upgrade" the capabilities of this country's defence services
in general and Navy in particular.
"India will help Vietnam in its capacity building for
repair and maintenance of its military platforms. The armies
of the two countries will also cooperate in areas like
Information Technology and English Training of Vietnamese Army
personnel," an Indian Defence Ministry official said here.
Both the armies would also have a joint training in
mountain and jungle warfare in India next year, apart from the
two sides working towards developing cooperation among defence
institutes and establishing linkages for sharing experience
and knowledge in military affairs.
Antony offered assistance to Vietnamese forces in UN
peace-keeping operations in which India has vast experience.
The two sides also discussed global and regional security
issues, particular those concerning the Asian region.
Antony told the Vietnamese leaders that their country
occupied a strategic position in India's policy priorities,
both bilaterally as well as under its 'Look East' policy.
Gen Thanh thanked India for its valuable contribution to
making the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting a great success.
He said India occupied a special position in Hanoi's
foreign policy framework and noted, "We are indeed moved by
your support."
Gen Thanh welcomed more port calls by Indian naval
warships to Vietnam and offered maintenance and repair
facilities at Vietnamese ports for these war machines.
Antony also extended an invitation to his Vietnamese
counterpart to visit India next year. PTI