New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnam has been a time-tested and reliable partner of India in Southeast Asia, Prof.Dr. Prabir De from the ASEAN – India Centre under the Research and Information System for Developing Countries has affirmed.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s state visit to India from July 30 to August 1, he stressed that the two countries have been each other's partners in various regional and international issues, adding the visit, the first by a high-ranking Vietnamese leader since PM Narendra Modi took office for his third consecutive term, will open up important initiatives and programmes for both nations.

He went on to say that PM Chinh’s trip is expected to create opportunities not only for the Vietnam – India ties but also the ASEAN – India ones, elaborating Vietnam is one of the key members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and a motive for the bloc’s integration, as ASEAN and India have upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Regarding bilateral cooperation potential, the Indian specialist held that trade between the two countries has exceeded 15 billion USD, suggesting the two sides strengthen their trade ties via a pilot free trade agreement.

Investments between the two countries have developed strongly, with Indian firms injecting capital into Vietnam’s agriculture, production of consumer goods, and services, and Vietnamese businesses coming to India to land investments, he added.

Trade and people-to-people exchanges, he said, have been enhanced on the back of an increase in the number of direct flights, with 60 week.

Vietnam and India have maintained marine connectivity while they are planning to bolster inland link with a highway expansion project from the border of Thailand and Myanmar to Laos and Hanoi, he said, expressing his hope that upon completion, the project will “unlock” cooperation opportunities in trade and investment, and other fields, helping consolidate the bilateral relations.

From the economic and security perspective, there are various programmes and projects that ASEAN and India could carry out if they find out a rational strategy to boost the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI).

As Vietnam is an important partner in the AOIP’s projects and programmes, and a key coastal nation with a number of maritime and port projects, the two nations have opportunities to cooperate in this domain, he said, adding the two countries, both boasting an array of civil ports, would promote the bilateral trade as well as with Asia and the remainders of the world if they enhance bilateral maritime commitments through agreements and the private sector.

According to Prabir De, green energy development is part of the two countries’ climate change response and net-zero target since they are vulnerable to climate-related issues. PM Chinh’s visit will also create opportunities for them to work together in the areas of climate and renewable energy./.