VietnamBy Manash Pratim BhuyanManila, Nov 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayheld separate bilateral talks with his Australian counterpartMalcolm Turnbull and Vietnamese premier Nguyen Xuan Phuc anddiscussed various issues of strategic interest, includingevolving security scenario in the Indo-Pacific region.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the ASEANsummit in the Philippines.
In the meeting with Turnbull, Modi is also understood tohave discussed convergence of strategic interest of both thecountries in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China'saggressive military posturing in the region.
Officials of India, Australia, the US and Japan had meton Sunday here to give shape to the proposed quadrilateral topursue their common security interest in the region.
The issue also figured during talks between Modi and USPresident Donald Trump here yesterday.
"A strategic partnership defined by close co-operationand multifaceted interaction. Prime Minister @narendramodi andPrime Minister @TurnbullMalcolm meet in Manila, discuss closecooperation to optimise significant potential for furthercooperation across a broad range of areas," external affairsministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
A number of issues including bilateral cooperation indefence and security sphere were discussed in ModiÂ’s meetingwith his Vietnamese counterpart.
"Strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership. PrimeMinister @narendramodi and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ofVietnam shared common goal to deepen bilateral relationsbetween the two countries," Kumar said in another tweet.
The Modi-Phuc meeting came days after Trump's visit toVietnam where he offered to mediate in the South China Seadispute between several ASEAN member countries includingVietnam and China.
China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea,a huge source of hydrocarbons. However, several ASEAN membercountries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei havecounter claims.
India has been supporting freedom of navigation andaccess to resources in the South China Sea in accordance withprinciples of international law, including the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea. PTI MPBNSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.