This is in tune with the decision taken during PM
Modi's visit to
Vietnam last September to "elevate" the bilateral "strategic partnership", which was established in July 2007, to a "comprehensive strategic partnership".
India and Vietnam, of course, are both concerned about China's assertive behaviour in the
Asia-Pacific region, and are steadily building cooperation in military training, exercises and defence technology, as well as in joint oil exploration in the contentious
South China Sea.
"Both countries are going to further crank up their defence ties, with Parrikar also offering partnership in setting up defence manufacturing capacity in Vietnam. Gen Lich, who also met the PM and national security adviser
Ajit Doval on Monday, said he wanted the two countries to also work closely in multilateral fora like the ADMM-Plus (Asean defence ministers' meeting-plus)," said a source.
The defence secretaries of India and Vietnam will now meet in early-2017 to identify military projects and equipment under the new $500 million defence line of credit announced by Modi during his visit to Vietnam.
As earlier reported by TOI, India has even offered to export the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Varunastra anti-submarine torpedoes, and other military hardware and software to Vietnam.
