Vietnamese PM by his side, Modi takes dig at China: We don’t support expansionism

“In our Act East policy and our Indo-Pacific vision, Vietnam is our important partner… We support development, not expansionism (Hum vistarbad nahi, vikasvad ka samarthan karte hain),” Modi said in Hindi in his statement.

Modi said that they have adopted a new plan of action to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“New steps have been taken for cooperation in the field of Defence and Security… The agreement on a $300-million credit line will strengthen Vietnam’s maritime security. We have also decided to emphasise cooperation on the issues of terrorism and cyber security,” Modi said.

The joint statement said that the leaders, underlining the link between prosperity and security, “reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, while pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), without resorting to threat or use of force.”

“Both leaders underscored the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, and avoidance of actions that could further complicate the situation or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability. Both leaders emphasised the legal framework set out by the UNCLOS within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and that UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones,” it said.