While discussing similar issues with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, in Hanoi, Pranab Da said “India is also prepared to strengthen intelligence cooperation with Vietnam.” He had a meeting with the Vietnamese Prime Minister on may 4th. Pranab dada was confident that strategic partnership between the two countries is strong because it is based on implicit mutual trust, a convergence of interests including in the field of defence and security and similar approaches on global and regional issues. “As two dynamic and fast growing economies of Asia, our effort is to add greater content, through concrete programmes and projects, to our strategic partnership, he added.
Back in 1994, both the countries signed a Protocol on Defence cooperation. Over the years Indo-Vietnamese Defence cooperation has grown steadily through visits by military delegations, ship visits from India and training of Vietnamese Defence personnel in India. Both countries have held a series of India Vietnam Security Dialogue.
On Dec18,2007 Gen Phung Quang Thanh in his remarks (to the Defence Minister , AK Antony) put forward various proposals including training of Vietnamese Defence Personnel, enhancing the exchanges of delegations, expanding training cooperation and cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries. He also suggested increase in the frequency of goodwill visits by naval ships, application of information technology in defence and e- technology and technical support to Vietnamese navy. The Vietnamese Defence Minister expressed gratitude to India for providing training to armed forces officers in various areas and said ‘they are bringing back valuable knowledge and skills to their work areas’. So far, a total of 49 officers have attended various Army and Navy Courses and 64 officers have attended English language courses.
We must remember that these are the same Vietnamese who took on the mighty Americans and chased them out. Though the Americans tried every dirty tactics in the book yet their campaign ended in disaster and ignominy. Before that they had defeated the French and the Chinese found it impossible to control them. even after their victory over the Americans the Vietnamese knew that one day they will have to do business with the Americans thus they tried their best to move from the past but never giving up their honour or dignity.
Surely India can learn a few lessons from this small country in the field of resolve and will to fight no matter what the cost.
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