Ansari to leave for Vietnam tomorrow

During the visit, Ansari will attend functions to mark the wrapping up of 40th anniversary celebrations of India-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, who visited India last week, had participated in the programme held here last week to mark the occasion.

The two countries celebrated 2012 as the year of India- Vietnam friendship. Vietnam has spoken out openly against Chinese intervention in South China Sea, an area where India and China had issues a few months back.

While India maintains that it is merely involved in economic activities like oil exploration in South China Sea, China feels India is trying to develop a strategic presence in the area. This issue has brought India and Vietnam closer.

During his visit to India, Ninh had clearly said that talks on issues related to the sea should be on the six-point principle of ASEAN and the 1982 UNCLOS.

Ninh said his country feels violence should be avoided in the region. The two countries are also working on increasing cooperation on national defence and security issues.

Defence cooperation between the two nations have been on since 2007 when relations were elevated to a strategic partnership.