Opening a new stage of cooperation
between Vietnam and RoK and India
National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly to pay an official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) and India from December 12 to 19 at the invitations of Speaker of the Korean National Assembly Park Byeong-seug, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) of India Om Birla, and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of India Venkaiah Naidu. The visit opens a new stage of development in the Vietnam-RoK Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The visit of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is taking place in the context that Vietnam and the RoK are going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations in 2022. Vietnam and India are also preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 5th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership next year.
The visits also express the NA's initiative and positivity in foreign affairs, contributing to the implementation of foreign policy guidelines according to the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. The visits also affirm that Vietnam is a friend and reliable partner of the RoK and India, and supports the role of the RoK and India in the region and throughout the world as well as its willingness to cooperate with other countries to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
The Republic of Korea - A miracle of outstanding development
Located in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, the RoK is famous for its scenic landscapes, leading entertainment industry, and booming economy. With a unique combination of tradition and modernity, the RoK wave of culture, also known as Hallyu, has entered many countries, strongly influencing contemporary cultures throughout the region and around the world.
Experiencing economic development with high growth rate, dubbed the “Miracle on the Han River”, the RoK is currently the leading economy in Asia as well as the world, recording strong development in the industries of electronics, automobiles, ships, among others.
The RoK has signed 16 free trade agreements with more than 50 countries, including many important partners such as the US and member countries of the EU and ASEAN.
In order to design the next 100-year vision for the economy, the RoK announced the Korea New Deal (K-New Deal) in July 2020, gradually turning the country's economy into a leading and low-carbon economy, through three pillars of digital transformation, green development and the consolidation of the security network.
In the implementation of its foreign policy over recent years, the RoK has promoted the New Southern Policy with the focus on strengthening and progressing to elevate relations with ASEAN, as well as its member countries, including Vietnam, in order to build a peaceful, prosperous and people-centred community. The RoK has also actively participated in ASEAN-led mechanisms and closely coordinated with ASEAN member countries, contributing to maintaining the momentum of cooperation, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting recovery.
Constantly improving the partnership
Established in 1992, the relationship between Vietnam and the RoK has developed rapidly. After issuing a joint statement on “Comprehensive Partnership in the 21st Century” in August 2001, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have been expanded in many fields. The upgrade of bilateral relations to a Strategic cooperative partnership in October 2009, opened a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries, with many important cooperation achievements.
Over the past, amid the pandemic, the two countries' relations have been strongly promoted through exchanges of delegations and bilateral contacts in appropriate forms. The regular maintenance of meetings at all levels contributes to enhancing mutual understanding and political trust between the two countries, creating a solid premise for cooperation between the two sides.
The relationship between the National Assemblies of the two countries has also continued to be consolidated and promoted according to the cooperation agreement between the two National Assemblies, making positive contributions to the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership. In recent terms, Speakers of the Korean National Assembly Chung Ui-hwa, Chung Sye-kyun and Park Byeong-Seug all paid official visits to Vietnam in March 2015, April 2017 and November 2020. On the Vietnamese side, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan paid an official visit to the RoK in December 2018.
The two sides have boosted sharing their experience in the operation of the National Assembly, especially in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, as well as strengthening friendly parliamentary exchanges between the two nations.
Both sides have also affirmed to strengthen exchanges, coordination and mutual support at regional and international multilateral parliamentary cooperation mechanisms such as the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia – Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and others.
Regarding economic cooperation, the RoK is one of the most important partners of Vietnam. The RoK ranked first among 140 countries and territories with valid investment projects in Vietnam as of August 2021, including 9,100 valid projects with a total registered capital of 72.35 billion USD. In the first eight months of 2021, the RoK investment in Vietnam reached 2.44 billion USD, with 251 new projects.
The RoK is Vietnam’s second largest trading partner. In the first eight months of 2021, bilateral trade reached 48.5 billion USD, up 17.4% year on year. The country is also the second largest ODA donor to Vietnam, providing 1.2 billion USD in loans from the Economic Development Co-operation Fund, during the 2012-2015 period. In November 2017, the two sides signed a framework credit agreement for the 2016-2020 period, with capital of 1.5 billion USD, and are working to extend the agreement until 2023.
Labour cooperation is also a bright spot in bilateral relations. The RoK is the second largest market for Vietnamese workers, while Vietnam is also the second largest source of foreign workers in the RoK. There are currently 48,000 Vietnamese workers in the RoK.
Cooperation in other areas, such as cooperation between localities, people-to-people exchanges, culture and education are also promoted, helping to strengthen mutual trust and understanding between the two countries’ people. Currently 76 Vietnamese provinces, cities and localities have signed cooperation agreements with Korean localities and organisations. Vietnamese communities in the RoK and the RoK communities in Vietnam have made active contributions to each country’s socio-economic development.
Concerning international and regional issues, the two sides coordinate closely and cooperate effectively at multilateral mechanisms, such as the United Nations, ASEAN and APEC, helping to maintain peace, stability and development throughout the region and the world at large.
Vietnam and the RoK agree to work closely together when Vietnam assumes the role of coordinating the ASEAN-RoK relationship during the 2021-2024 period, helping to strengthen the bloc’s relations with the RoK, as well as helping to reinforce ASEAN’s central role in the region.
The relationship between the Republic of Korea and Vietnam has been growing rapidly and extensively in all fields. I strongly believe that cooperation based on mutual trust which has been nurtured in the past 30 years will deepen further over the next 30 years.
Emphasising the significance of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s visit to the RoK, Ambassador Park Noh Wan expressed his belief that the visit will provide a new momentum for the strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.
India
Driver of rapid growth
“Make in India”
India’s geographic location is very special as it lies against the majestic Himalayas, facing the vast Indian Ocean. With two major rivers, the Indus and the Ganges, India is one of the cradles of ancient civilisation. With a history of more than 4,500 years, India is also the birthplace of many major beliefs, philosophies and cultures of the world.
Photo: Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photo: Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
India has a basically stable political climate. Confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been continually strengthened since he won his second term in May 2019. Prime Minister Modi adopted a new budget that promotes economic growth, enhances the production capacity and the people’s standard of living. Thanks to measures to stimulate economic recovery, the IMF projects that India’s growth during the fiscal year 2021-2022 will reach 9.5%.
With the second largest population and seventh largest area in the world, India is one of the major industrial nations while also having a strong agriculture. The “Make in India” policy initiated by Prime Minister Modi in 2014 has produced impressive results, helping to make India one of the global manufacturing centres. The plan aims to attract investment in infrastructure, enhance workers’ skills, and protect intellectual property rights so as to create a complete system for manufacturing.
After the strategy started to be implemented in 2015, India soon became the largest recipient of foreign direct investment. Outdated processes which were hampering economic growth have been replaced with modern digital systems. The manufacturing of cars, mobile devices, electronic systems, transport and pharmaceuticals have seen remarkable growth.
During the 2016-2018 period, India jumped 100 places on the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings. Manufacturing is expected to contribute 1 Trillion USD to the Indian economy by 2025.
Photo: A Honda manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Rajasthan (Photo: Reuters)
Photo: A Honda manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Rajasthan (Photo: Reuters)
The position and role of India is strengthened at many regional and global forums. Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy focuses on some major points, namely enhancing cooperation and supporting the fight against COVID-19 with many countries in the world; reinforcing relations with neighbouring countries; enhancing India’s position and role at multilateral forums; and addressing territorial and border issues.
The India-ASEAN relationship has seen many important results. India reaffirms ASEAN as a focus in its Look East policy. At the 18th ASEAN-India Summit in October 2021, the two sides adopted the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region.
Nearly half a century of deep cooperation
Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties, the two sides have maintained many high-level visits and effectively enhanced bilateral cooperation mechanisms. The Meeting of Vietnam-India Joint Committee on Economic, Commercial, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation was held biennially. The Committee’s 16th assembly took place in Hanoi. The two sides also organised the 10th political consultation and 7th strategic dialogue. The two countries also held their first maritime security dialogue. The cooperation between the Party agencies of the two nations has been boosted through the exchanges of delegations as honourable guests. They also witnessed the effective development of security and defence cooperation, which has become an important and strategic pillar. Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships have regularly visited Vietnam.
The relations between the legislative bodies of the two countries have been maintained and constantly consolidated, contributing to boosting and developing the long-standing friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India. On the occasion of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s official visit to India in December 2016, the National Assembly of Vietnam and the House of Representatives of India signed a cooperation agreement, which stressed the importance and necessity of parliamentary cooperation for the enhancement of the relations between the two countries as well as committed to systematically strengthen exchanges and cooperation on important international issues.
Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma
The close friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and India were clearly demonstrated through their mutual sharing and support during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam has donated several medical supplies to the Indian people. Specifically, the Vietnamese Government gave aid of medical supplies worth a total of 70,000 USD; Vietnam – India Friendship Association presented 100 ventilators, 50,000 medical masks and two tonnes of disinfectant solution. Meanwhile, India donated 300 oxygen generators and 100 tonnes of liquefied medical oxygen to Vietnam, as well as provided COVID-19 treatment drugs and supported Vietnam in researching and testing vaccines.
Regarding economic and trade cooperation, India is one of the ten largest trading partners of Vietnam. Their two-way trade turnover has increased gradually since the two countries established their strategic partnership and upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Their bilateral trade turnover saw an average increase of 16% per year during the 2008-2013 period. The two sides’ trade turnover reached 9.67 billion USD in 2020, a year-on-year decrease of 13.6% due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded nearly 11 billion USD as of October 2021. In particular, Vietnam’s import turnover was a total of 5.84 billion, and the country exported 5.14 billion USD worth of goods, up 37% over the same period last year. Vietnam mainly exported machines, equipment, telephones, chemicals, copper, coffee, iron and steel to India, while importing mainly iron and steel, meat and seafood, cotton, pharmaceuticals, auto parts and machinery.
By the end of October 2021, India's total registered capital ranked 26th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 310 projects worth nearly 910 million USD in the fields of energy, mining agricultural processing, sugar, tea and coffee production, agrochemicals, information technology and auto parts. Vietnam now has nine investment projects with a total registered capital of nearly 6.03 million to India, focusing on the fields of animal feed, construction materials, imports and exports of cosmetics and computer products.
Cultural and educational cooperation has gained more ground for long-term development with the establishment of Indian Cultural Centre and the Centre for India Studies in Hanoi (in 2016) and the Centre for Vietnam Studies in New Delhi (in 2018). The two countries agreed to place a statue of President Ho Chi Minh in New Delhi (in September 2021) and a statue of Leader Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh City, which is expected at Tao Dan park.
Indian visitors to Vietnam witnessed an average increase of 25% per year in recent years, from 85,000 in 2016 to nearly 170,000 in 2019. On October 2019, two private airlines of Vietnam (Vietjet Air) and India (IndiGo) opened direct routes between six cities from the two countries; however, they were later interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo 1: On September 1, Vietnamese Embassy in India, in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs of India and the New Delhi government held a solemn ceremony to place the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in New Delhi. (Photo: VOV)
Photo 1: On September 1, Vietnamese Embassy in India, in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs of India and the New Delhi government held a solemn ceremony to place the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in New Delhi. (Photo: VOV)
Photo 2: Indian Government donated medical supplies, including 300 oxygen generators and 100 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen, to Vietnam during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Photo 2: Indian Government donated medical supplies, including 300 oxygen generators and 100 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen, to Vietnam during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Photo 3: The NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA office Nguyen Hanh Phuc presented medical supplies to Indian Embassy in Vietnam. (Photo: quochoi.vn)
Photo 3: The NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA office Nguyen Hanh Phuc presented medical supplies to Indian Embassy in Vietnam. (Photo: quochoi.vn)
Photo 4: Member of Party Central Committee (PCC), Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper and Deputy Head of the PCC’s Commission for Communications and Education, Le Quoc Minh, received Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma.
Photo 4: Member of Party Central Committee (PCC), Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper and Deputy Head of the PCC’s Commission for Communications and Education, Le Quoc Minh, received Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma.
Regarding the development cooperation, India continued to provide Vietnam with non-refundable development assistance packages and preferential credits in many fields such as information technology, economy, law and English, etc; continuing to sponsor projects on infrastructure construction and upgrading, education and culture, etc. Their cooperation in information and communications, natural resources and environment saw positive development.
Since 2012, India has provided Vietnam with scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and the training courses of Hindi and Indian culture. India established a training centre for high-quality human resources in information technology and communications in Hanoi and an English centre at Da Nang University.
The two sides worked closely at regional and international forums, notably within the framework of the United Nations (UN). The two nations supported each other to join the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UN Economic and Social Council (UNESC), the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), etc. Vietnam supported India in implementing the Act East Policy as well as initiatives for regional connectivity and helping the development of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV) and Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) sub-regions. In August 2021, the Indian Prime Minister invited Vietnamese PM to attend and deliver a speech at the UNSC Open Debate on Enhancing Maritime Security.
The official visits to the RoK and India made by the high-ranking delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam, led by Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, is an important step forward for the relations between Vietnam and the RoK and India. Vietnam, along with the RoK and India, will open up a new period of more practical and effective cooperation in all fields.
Production Manager: NINH SON, NGOC THANH
Content: DINH TRUONG, NHU NGOC
Translation: NDO
Design: MINH THU, BIEN DIEU
Photos: quochoi.vn, VOV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RoK Embassy in Vietnam, Indian Embassy in Vietnam, Reuters.
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