PM Modi, PM Dung stress on need for reform of UNSC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, in a joint statement during the latter's two-day state visit, on Tuesday stressed on the need for the reformation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership.

In their statement, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung emphasised on the need for urgent reformation of the UNSC in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries.

Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UNSC. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung 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. India also agreed to assist Vietnam in capacity building for participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Noting the value of the cooperation and coordination between New Delhi and Hanoi at regional and international fora, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two nations particularly in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM Plus), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as well as other sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

The two leaders further noted that Vietnam's assumption of the role of ASEAN Coordinator for India for the period of 2015-18 would facilitate closer cooperation between the two nations as ASEAN reaches its goal of becoming a full community by 2015. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung also agreed to strengthen the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.

Prime Minister Dung extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Vietnam at a mutually convenient date, which the latter accepted with pleasure.

Prime Minister Dung is on a two-day state visit to India. During his visit, the leader witnessed the signing of seven agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two nations.

On Tuesday evening, he will attend a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Modi before departing.