New Delhi, Sep 1: India and Vietnam are cooperating in all fields, including security, peace, and other related matters, and are coordinating their position on all world affairs, Vietnam’s Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau said Today.

Both India and Vietnam are currently temporary members of the UN Security Council, which has five permanent members – China, France, Russia, UK, and the USA.

Asked about the challenges that have emerged amid the changing global situation, the Ambassador said the two countries are working together on all matters, including security.

“Vietnam and India have a very cordial relationship. It continues to develop in a very strong manner, and we have cooperation in all fields, so we discuss everything, including security and peace-related matters and of course socio-economic development,” Pham told UNI on the sidelines of an event to unveil a bust of revolutionary Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh.

“Our two countries are members of the UN security council. We have worked very hard to coordinate our positions on all world affairs,” the Ambassador told UNI.

Vietnam held the presidency of the UNSC in April 2021, and in August, India was in the chair.

Under India’s presidency, the UNSC adopted a presidential statement at the high-level debate on maritime security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 9. Prime Minister Modi underlined the need for maritime disputes to be resolved peacefully. India has repeatedly raised concerns over the activities of China in the South China sea.

On August 30, a day before India’s one-month-long presidency was to end, UNSC adopted a strong resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists and that it expects the Taliban will adhere to commitments. Russia and China abstained from voting, while the other 13 members supported the resolution.

While the Ambassador did not comment on Afghanistan, he said Vietnam is for peace and stability, and the “deep roots” of terrorism need to be addressed.

Talking about the life and philosophy of legendary Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, he said he was similar to Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology of putting people first can guide the world in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Ho Chi Minh is a legendary revolutionary, and also a famous intellectual. His lifestyle was simple, as simple as Mahatma Gandhi’s, he lived in a wooden house, had no family, everyone was his family. He always thought about the people, and we apply that principle in the current pandemic. Whatever we do, saving the lives of people is most important,” he said.

A bust of Ho Chi Minh was installed in Delhi on Tuesday, in the presence of Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi. (UNI)