India, Vietnam Have Interests in Indo-Pacific Cooperation: Jaishankar

The cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is in the mutual interests of India and Vietnam, according to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who also emphasised the importance of ASEAN's centrality and the Quad grouping's role.

The comments were made by Jaishankar, who began a four-day official visit to Vietnam on Sunday. He was speaking on "India in the Indo-Pacific" at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

"Discussed the reasons why it is in our common interest to work together in the Indo-Pacific framework, underscoring the value of ASEAN's centrality and the Quad's contribution," Jaishankar wrote in a post on Platform X.

He went on to explain how India and Vietnam, with their independent mindsets, can promote a multipolar and rules-based global order.

India, keen to cement its geopolitical interests in the South China Sea (SCS), has found Vietnam at the forefront of its strategic calculations.

First, India's long and unwavering support for Vietnam's anti-colonial struggle during its ongoing struggle for independence and unification has been essential to their relationship of trust. Second, Vietnam's stance on regional security and its approach to resolving the SCS issue have proved beneficial to New Delhi's vision of a peaceful Southeast Asia.

For India, Vietnam enjoys an important position in the Act East Policy (AEP). Vietnam is also a country that can actively participate in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). While for Vietnam, India is an emerging power with ascendant influence in the region and the world. Vietnam considers India one of its three comprehensive strategic partners. Hence, India is important to Vietnam in terms of political, strategic, military, economic, cultural, and other dimensions.

As such, Vietnam has encouraged India to integrate more closely with Southeast Asia, with Vietnam acting as a bridge-builder between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the most significant international organisations in the area. India and several other nations, including China, Japan, Australia, and the US are its dialogue partners.

Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia make up ASEAN's ten member nations.

With a focus on enhancing cooperation in trade and investment and security and defence, India-ASEAN relations have improved significantly in recent years.

In a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son earlier in the day, Jaishankar and Bui Thanh Son exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific and measures to strengthen bilateral ties in areas, including commerce, energy, military, and maritime security.

Jaishankar was also present at the 18th India-Vietnam Joint Commission meeting on Monday in Hanoi.

Jaishankar will visit Singapore from October 19 to 20 after Vietnam.

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