Medical Supplies Taken To VIETNAM
INS Airavat carried medical supplied to Vietnam, India’s strongest friend in Natuna Sea region off Southern Coast of China
As part of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative of India, the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indo Pacific region and has been at the forefront of numerous humanitarian missions spanning the entire extent of the Indian Ocean.
Last week, INS AIRAVAT had delivered medical supplies to Indonesia. Now INS AIRAVAT has reached Vietnam with Oxygen supplies. “ Indo-Pacific approach in practice” tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
India has delivered 100 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen and 300 oxygen containers to Vietnam on Monday to help the country fight the coronavirus infection, officials said. The supplies were transported to the Ho Chi Minh City port by Indian Navy ship INS AIRAVAT.
Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said that the medical supplies were sent in accordance with the requirements projected by the Vietnamese government.
The two navies cooperate in various areas, including a composite training programme in the fields of submarine, aviation and technical training, and regularly carry out joint naval exercises in the form of bilateral exercises,” Commander Madhwal said.
“The current deployment of the ship aims to further strengthen the strategic relationship,” he added.
The ties between India and Vietnam are on an upswing, particularly in the areas of defence and security. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Vietnamese counterpart Sr Lt Gen Phan Van Giang held extensive talks virtually last month during which they vowed to further enhance military-to-military cooperation.
Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the Natuna Sea region which is South of Chinese Coast. India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.
