India, Vietnam agree to set up a joint anti-terror mechanism

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung today signed a joint declaration on establishing a bilateral strategic partnership that envisages establishing of a joint anti-terror mechanism and closer defence cooperation between the two nations.

New Delhi, July 6 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung today signed a joint declaration on establishing a bilateral strategic partnership that envisages establishing of a joint anti-terror mechanism and closer defence cooperation between the two nations.

The Joint Declaration on Establishing a Strategic Partnership seeks to diversify and deepen the relationship between the two countries in a 'rapidly changing environment'.

It also envisages establishing a strategic dialogue mechanism and close cooperation in the fields of political, economic, cultural, science and technology.

India today reiterated its commitment to assist Vietnam through grants and concessional lines of credit, and both the nations also agreed to work together to establish an Asian community.

They also agreed to have close cooperation in multilateral fora like the United Nations.

Besides this, India and Vietnam signed eight agreements that included cooperation in the fields of nuclear sciences, agriculture, fisheries and education.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Atomic Energy of India and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam envisages cooperative activities like the training of manpower from Vietnam in India in nuclear and related fields, India's assistance to the activities of the India-Vietnam Nuclear Science Centre in Dalat and the study and evaluation of Uranium ore processing technology for Vietnamese Uranium ores.

It was signed by Anil Kakodar, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy from Indian side and Hoang Van Phong, Minister for Science and Technology from Vietnamese side.

A separate MoU on bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries and aquaculture was signed between Agriculture Minster Sharad Pawar and Vietnamese Maritime Products Minister Ta Quang Ngoc.

This MoU envisages exchange of information and data, exchange of delegations, cooperation in research and human resource development and encouragement of direct cooperation between the businesses of both countries through mutual investment, establishment of joint ventures and technology transfer in the area of fisheries and aquaculture.

A work plan in the field of agriculture research and education between 2007 and 2009 was also signed today that envisages exchanges of scientists and experts, germ plasm and literature, technical cooperation, joint research and the protection of intellectual property rights of scientists of either country.

An MoU on cooperation between Vietnam Steel Corporation and Tata Steel was also signed under which the latter would invest in building a steel complex in Vietnam in partnership with the former.

Besides this an agreement on Cultural Exchange Programme between the two countries, an MoU for establishing the centre for English language training in Danang City of Vietnam, an MoU on exchange of properties and land for the respective diplomatic missions, and setting up of an Educational Exchange Programme, were also signed.

The Educational Exchange Programme envisages the exchange research material, educational materials and literature, setting up of Chairs of contemporary studies, provision of scholarships and mutual assistance in IT, Computer Science, Mathematics and Science.

ANI