The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) held its third dialogue with its MoU partner, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) on May 26, 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, Director General, ICWA, led a five member ICWA delegation comprising of Dr. Prabir De, ASEAN India Centre, RIS, New Delhi; Prof. Parul Pandya Dhar, Department of History, University of Delhi, Delhi; Dr. Udai Bhanu Singh, Former Senior Research Associate and Coordinator, Southeast Asia and Oceania Centre, MPIDSA, New Delhi and Dr. Temjenmeren Ao, Research Fellow, ICWA. Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President, VASS, led the Vietnamese delegation. Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA had a meeting with Bui Nhat Quang, President, VASS, during which a wide-range of bilateral, regional and global issues were discussed.
The third ICWA-VASS Dialogue coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of India-Vietnam diplomatic relations. The theme of the Dialogue was “Strengthening India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.
At the inaugural session, remarks were made by Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President, VASS; Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, Director General, ICWA; and Amb. Pranay Verma, Ambassador of India to Vietnam. It was noted that India-Vietnam relations are poised to grow stronger amidst the emerging geo-political and geo-economic trends in the region and the world. Emphasis was laid on the ‘India-Vietnam Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity, and People’ announced in 2020 as a guide to develop the future bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through enhanced defence cooperation and security partnership which is a key factor in achieving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Session One on ‘Regional and Global Issues – India and Vietnamese Perspectives’ was chaired by Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President, VASS. Speakers included Dr. Pham Cao Cuong, DDG, Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, VASS and Dr. Udai Bhanu Singh, Former Senior Research Associate, MPIDSA, New Delhi. Comments were made by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, DG, Institute of Americas Studies, VASS and Dr. Prabir De, ASEAN India Centre, RIS, New Delhi. Discussions were held on the emerging developments in the regional and global arena and the ongoing geo-political and geo-economic contestations. Both sides expressed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties and work towards addressing common challenges such as climate change, poverty alleviation for sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
Session Two on ‘India and Vietnam – Partnership for Peace’ was chaired by Dr. Udai Bhanu Singh, Former Senior Research Associate, MPIDSA, New Delhi. Speakers included Dr. Temjenmeren Ao, Research Fellow, ICWA and Lieut. Vu Van Khanh, Institute of Defense Strategy, Ministry of National Defense. Comments were made by Dr. Udai Bhanu Singh, Former Senior Research Associate, MPIDSA, New Delhi and Dr. Phan Cao Nhat Anh, DDG, Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, VASS. The session focused on defence and security which is one of the important pillars of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Strategic trust shared between India and Vietnam is the foundation for close cooperation between the two in the regional and international arena.
Session Three on ‘India and Vietnam – Partnership for Prosperity’ was chaired by Dr. Pham Cao Cuong, DDG, Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, VASS. Speakers included Dr. Prabir De, ASEAN India Centre, RIS, New Delhi and Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, DDG, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, VASS. Comments were made by Dr. Temjenmeren Ao, Research Fellow, ICWA and Dr. Phi Vinh Tuong, Acting DG, Institute of World Economics and Politics, VASS. It was emphasized that deeper trade and investment, stronger value chain networks, all-weather connectivity and digital integration are important for taking the bilateral partnership to a higher level. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has opened up opportunities to further strengthen ties.
Session Four on ‘India and Vietnam – Cultural links and People-to-People Ties’ was chaired by Dr. Prabir De, ASEAN India Centre, RIS, New Delhi. Speakers included Prof. Parul Pandya Dhar, Department of History, University of Delhi, Delhi and Dr. Huynh Thanh Loan and Dr. Le Thi Hang Nga, Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, VASS. Comments were made by Dr. Udai Bhanu Singh, Former Senior Research Associate, MPIDSA, New Delhi and Prof. Dr. Do Thu Ha, Head of Indian Studies Department, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences & Humanities, VNU. During the discussion, it was brought out that both countries share deep civilizational linkages which have sustained their friendship. It was emphasised that the antiquity and richness of this connected history has been brought forward in modern times through a renewed commitment to cooperation in the fields of culture, education, technology, and diplomacy.
In the closing session remarks were made by Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, Director General, ICWA and Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President, VASS. It was emphasised that, given the geo-political shifts currently underway, India and Vietnam should continue to strengthen their dialogue mechanisms, trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, bilaterally and through other sub-regional mechanisms such as the Mekong Ganga Cooperation. It was emphasized that bilateral ties are poised to grow stronger based on the foundations of deep mutual trust and understanding.
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