India-Vietnam call for reforming UN, expanding Security Council

Hanoi, Sep 3:

India and Vietnam on Saturday stressed the need to reform the United Nations and expansion of its Security Council, with “enhanced representation” from developing countries, a joint statement issued by the two countries said.

According to the statement issued after a meeting between visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Modi reaffirmed India’s interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides.

He also committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Modi announced a grant of $5 million for the construction of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

“Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries,” the joint statement said.

The statement said Prime Minister Modi has expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s consistent support to India’s candidature for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UNSC.

“The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other’s candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC — Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22”.

Modi also reaffirmed India’s significant interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides and committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats between Larsen & Toubro and Vietnam Border Guards utilizing the $100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement extended by India to Vietnam.

The two countries also expressed the desire to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity “in Asia and beyond”. (IANS)