New Delhi

India and Vietnam on Tuesday reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific and agreed to strengthen cooperation on the joint production of military hardware under their “enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership”.

The focus on expanding defence ties came during talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang in Hanoi.

According to India’s Defence Ministry, the two ministers reviewed the growing defence partnership and discussed ways to deepen cooperation in maritime security, defence industry, military training and regional stability.

Sources said defence industrial collaboration, including joint production of military equipment, figured prominently in the discussions. Vietnam is also understood to have shown interest in procuring BrahMos missile systems from India.

Singh arrived in the Vietnamese capital on Monday for a two-day visit.

Following the talks, both countries signed an agreement on cooperation in artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

The visit comes shortly after India and Vietnam upgraded bilateral ties to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership.

“The two sides exchanged views on regional and global security developments of mutual interest and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region,” the ministry said.

The discussions also covered military training, defence industry collaboration, maritime security, capacity building, UN peacekeeping, cyber security and high-level exchanges.

During the meeting, Gen Giang appreciated India’s continued support and highlighted the long-standing friendship and expanding strategic ties between the two nations.

The two ministers also virtually inaugurated a language laboratory at the Air Force Officers’ College in Vietnam, established with Indian assistance. Singh additionally announced the setting up of an artificial intelligence lab at Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

During his visit, Singh also called on Vietnamese President To Lam and conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Singh reiterated India’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Vietnam across sectors including defence and security, trade and investment, maritime cooperation, connectivity, digital transformation and people-to-people ties.

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President To Lam welcomed the growing engagement between the two countries and described India as an important partner in Vietnam’s development and strategic priorities.