Exercise VINBAX-2023

13.12.2023

Exercise VINBAX-2023 , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

 Why in the news?

Recently, the Indian Armed Forces contingent comprising 45 personnel reached Hanoi, Vietnam to take part in the Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.

About Exercise VINBAX-2023:

• It was instituted in 2018 and the first edition was conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam.
• Last edition was conducted at Chandimandir Military Station in August 2022.
• This year’s exercise will be conducted at Hanoi, Vietnam.
• The Indian contingent comprises 39 personnel from an Engineer Regiment of Bengal Engineer Group and six personnel of Army Medical Corps are participating.
• Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote inter- operability and share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter on Peacekeeping Operations.
• The exercise will be conducted as a Command Post Exercise cum Field Training Exercise with focus on deployment and employment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team.
• Both sides will conduct technical military operations in accordance with scenarios akin to worldwide deployment of United Nations’ contingents.

Significance

• It will encourage exchange of ideas and both contingents will jointly rehearse tactics, technique and procedures. Ideas will be exchanged on modern methods to construct roads, culverts, helipads, ammunition shelter and observation posts in operational areas.
• It will help in promoting understanding and interoperability between the two contingents and further strengthen the defence cooperation between the friendly armies.

Facts About Vietnam

Location: Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east and south.

Capital: Hanoi

Largest Rivers: The Mekong in the south and the Red in the north, end at the South China Sea.

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Independence: Declared on September 2, 1945, from French colonial rule.

Historical Events: Vietnam War (1955-1975) involving the US and North and South Vietnam: Reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976.

Festivals: Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) and Vu Lan (Hungry Ghost Festival).

India-Vietnam relations

Background

• India-Vietnam relations have been exceptionally friendly and cordial since their foundations were laid by the founding fathers of the two countries - President Ho Chi Minh and President Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Nehru.
• The traditionally close and cordial relations have their historical roots in the common struggle for liberation from foreign rule and the national struggle for independence.
• Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the first visitors to Vietnam after its victory against the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. President Ho Chi Minh went to India in February 1958.
• Vietnam is an important regional partner in South East Asia. India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) besides UN and WTO.

India-Vietnam Trade

• During FY 2021, bilateral trade between India and Vietnam reached around US$ 14 billion.
• Vietnam occupies the 101st position in FDI equity inflows into India with a cumulative FDI amount of US$ 5.35 million from April 2000 – September 2022.
• Vietnam occupies a central position in India’s Act East Policy as also in the Indo-Pacific strategy.
• According to Indian data for the financial year April 2021-March 2022, bilateral trade posted a growth of 27% and reached US$ 14.14 billion. Indian exports to Vietnam amounted to US$ 6.70 billion (an increase of 34%) while Indian imports from Vietnam amounted to US$ 7.44 billion (an increase of 21%).
• The key Vietnamese exported products to India are mobile phones and components, computers, electronic products and components, chemicals, plastics, rubber, coffee, pepper, and cashew.

Multilateral Cooperation:

India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) besides UN and WTO.

Defense Cooperation:

• High-Speed Patrol Boats: In September 2014, India extended a Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 100 million to procure 12 high-speed patrol boats for the Vietnamese border guard force.
• In 2016, an additional USD 500 million defense LoC was extended to Vietnam.
• Also, the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam defense partnership towards 2030 was signed in June 2022.
• Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise: Ex VINBAX

Maritime Security and Cooperation:

• Freedom of Navigation: Both countries firmly support freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as lawful commerce in national waters, in accordance with international laws, particularly UNCLOS.
• South China Sea Code of Conduct: India and Vietnam emphasize that the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea should be consistent with relevant UN conventions and respect the legitimate rights and interests of nations not participating in the discussions.

Science and Technology

• Science and Technology is an important area of bilateral cooperation.
• The MoUs/Agreements signed during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam last year on Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, IT Cooperation, Cyber Security and the Framework Agreement signed in December on Uses of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes show the importance our two countries attach to this area.

Information Technology is an area with strong growth potential. Many Indian companies have established their presence in Vietnam for various IT solutions and services in the area of banking, telecom, cyber security etc.