NEW DELHI: India has given Rs 3,250-crore credit for the defence to Vietnam as the two nations forge a relationship to strengthen ties in the Asia-Pacific region that may also control China’s imminent threat, a year after the QUAD summit was held between other nations.
The announcement on the line of credit was made by the visiting Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in Vietnam.
“Today, I am pleased to handover a gift of 1 million dollars for the establishment of a language laboratory in the school. I am confident that the laboratory shall substantially contribute to raising language and IT skills for Vietnam Air Defence and Air Force Personnel,” Singh said.
The announcement also comes at a time when some reports and satellite images have suggested that China’s presence was growing alongside eastern Ladakh in India.
Singh, who is on a three-day visit to the South-East Asian nation, also held bilateral talks with Minister of national defence General Phan Van Giang. He also called on the President of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuoc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinch.
Earlier, Singh also handed over 12 High-Speed Guard Boats to Vietnam during his visit to Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong.
“The boats have been constructed under the government of India’s USD 100 million defence line of credit to Vietnam,” the government said.
Officials also told The New Indian that the initial five boats were built in the Larsen & Toubro shipyard in India and the other seven at the Hong Ha Shipyard.