India, Vietnam ink seven pacts including ONGC and PetroVietnam for joint exploration
29 Oct 2014 8:28 AM IST
China says won’t compromise sovereignty on SCS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks as his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung looks on during their joint press briefing at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks on Tuesday to further strengthen strategic ties between the two countries, India and Vietnam signed seven pacts, the most significant were the agreement between ONGC Videsh Ltd and PetroVietnam to “enhance mutual cooperation in the Hydrocarbon sector” and expansion of presence of OVL in Vietnam.
A separate MoU signed sought to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the energy sector.
Vietnam said it “highly appreciated India’s position regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issue and India’s continued cooperation with Vietnam in oil and gas exploration and extraction in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam in the East Sea”.
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted by news agency reports from Beijing as saying, “As for the likely exploration of South China Sea oil fields between Vietnam and India, I want to say that China’s position is consistent and clear. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands. Any lawful and justifiable oil exploration activity in the South China Sea is fine with us. But if such activity undermines sovereignty and interests of China we are firmly opposed to this. I want to point out that the South China Sea disputes should be resolved through dialogue and consultations.”
China refers to the Spratly islands which is comprised of more than 750 reefs, islets and atolls as Nansha islands. China has also been nervous about growing Indo-Vietnamese defence ties since it considers the South China Sea as its own backyard.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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