Rajnath Will Visit To Vietnam For Focus On Strengthen Defence Relationships

The defence ministry stated on Sunday that defence minister Rajnath Singh will travel to Vietnam on June 8 for a three-day visit to discuss bilateral defence cooperation with his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Giang.

According to the ministry, Singh will preside over the handover ceremony of 12 high-speed boats to Vietnam at the Hong Ha yard in Hai Phong. The boats were built by L&T under India’s $100 million defence line of credit to the Southeast Asian country.

“This initiative is noteworthy in the context of rising defence industrial cooperation with Vietnam,” it noted, “and represents Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, Make for the World.”

Singh will begin his trip by visiting the memorial of late President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi.

Officials familiar with the matter said Singh will hold bilateral talks with General Giang, during which the two leaders will review bilateral defence cooperation and explore new initiatives to further strengthen military engagements. The talks will also cover regional and global issues of mutual interest.

During his visit, Singh will meet with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

According to the ministry, the defence minister’s schedule includes visits to Vietnamese training schools in Nha Trang, notably Telecommunication University, where an Army Software Park is being established with a $5 million grant from India.

The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam. Since 2016, the two countries have enjoyed a comprehensive strategic alliance, with defence cooperation serving as a crucial foundation.