 "India, Vietnam hold strategic dialogue; talk South China Sea")
India and Vietnam have discussed key issues including security cooperation during their 5th Strategic Dialogue held here in which the recent developments in the "maritime domain" and the need for peaceful resolution of all disputes were also taken up.
Entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the forthcoming high level visits, cooperation in political and security related matters, trade and investment, MEA said here on Wednesday.
Without naming the South China Sea, a ministry release said, "Both sides also discussed recent developments in the maritime domain and the need for peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with accepted principles of international law as reflected notably in the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982."
Vietnam is also a party to the dispute involving territorial claims by China in the region. Other countries include Brunei and Philippines.
Recently, a UN tribunal dismissed China's claims saying there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.
India and Vietnam also exchanged views on issues of mutual concern at regional and multilateral level, including cooperation at UN and International Organisations with Hanoi reaffirming its support for India's candidature for a Permanent seat in an expanded UNSC.
The two sides also talked about cooperation in health, energy and agriculture sector, connectivity, lines of credit and other capacity building projects in Vietnam and increasing people-to-people ties, the ministry added.