Both India and China are comprehensive strategic partners of Vietnam and “we do not take sides”, said outgoing Vietnamese envoy in India Pham Sanh Chau. He said that India and Vietnam supported each other at the United Nations Security Council as non-permanent members and also share the same position, the “middle path or Buddha path” on the ongoing situation in Europe.
In a conversation with The Hindu before his departure after a four-year stint, the envoy listed handling the COVID pandemic without any casualty, construction of the new Embassy building, launch of direct flights between the two countries, and issuing a record number of 6,000 visas per day to Indians as some of the major achievements.
On defence cooperation, Mr. Pham said visit of Vietnamese ships to India and participation in multilateral exercise ‘Milan’ happened for the first time. “Just last week, for the first time ever in Vietnam history, we sent 45 officers to India for training in UN peacekeeping operations. It reflects the very deep convergence of strategic interest between the two countries and the mutual trust. After the training they will be deployed in South Sudan,” he stated.
