Two Indian naval ships, INS KOLKATA and INS SHAKTI, made a port call to Viet Nam from April 13 to 16, 2019, as part of an operational deployment in the Southeast Asian region. The ships with 735 officers and sailors on board, under the command of Captain Aditya Hara - Commanding Officer INS Kolkata, arrived in Cam Ranh International Port on Saturday, April 13. The visit is made in the context of the vigorous development in the Viet Nam -India comprehensive strategic partnership in general and the bilateral defense relations in particular. The event was to realize agreements between the two militaries’ leaders, contributing to efficiently expanding the bilateral defense cooperation.
Captain Aditya Hara (left) met Mr. Tran Son Hai - Permanent Vice-Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee. (Photo: baokhanhhoa.vn)
During the visit, the delegation of high rank officers from INS KOLKATE and INS SHAKTI, led by Captain Aditya Hara, paid a courtesy call to Khanh Hoa Provincial leader on April 15, 2019. At the meeting, Permanent Vice-Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, Mr. Tran Son Hai introduced about the province’s geographical location, development potentials, especially in tourism and marine economic growth. Over the past years, Khanh Hoa has received many projects with a total investment capital of more than USD3 billion. The import-export turnover has reached over USD1 billion. The imports to India have been mainly Tapioca flour and seafood. Khanh Hoa has received much Indian support and assistance in national defense, education and health care. The relationship between Vietnam and India in general and Khanh Hoa and India in particular is progressing, contributing to the provincial economy, national security and defense.
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Ambassador of India to Viet Nam Parvathaneni Harish gave remarks on good relationship of India and Viet Nam, at a reception on board of INS Kolkata which is anchored in Cam Ranh international port, Khanh Hoa. (Photo: T.K.)
India-Vietnam relations have grown stronger in recent years due to a vibrant economic engagement and growing convergence on political, regional and security issues. In 2016, during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnam, the relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
On the occasion of the visit, the Indian Navy Band made a public concert for citizens and tourists in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. (Photo: T.K.)
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited India in January 2018 as a guest at the Republic Day Parade and took part in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. This was followed by a State Visit by the then President of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang, to India in March 2018. President Ram Nath Kovind paid a State Visit to Vietnam in November 2018. "These high-level visits followed by regular exchanges from defence services have added momentum into ongoing bilateral defence and security cooperation," the Indian Embassy in Ha Noi said in a statement. Bilateral defence cooperation is a vital component of the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ between India and Vietnam. "There is growing convergence between India and Vietnam on various regional and international issues. Both countries are committed to building a peaceful and prosperous Asia and the Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law as well as freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded economic activities. "The visit seeks to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation and will further bolster the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries and contribute to security and stability in the region and the world at large", the statement of the Indian Embassy marked.
Khanh Do