India offers £234m loan to build up Vietnam’s maritime security

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh walk together in New Delhi, India (AP)

India on Thursday offered a 300 million-dollar (£234 million) loan to build up Vietnam’s maritime security, as the two sides said they want to double their trade and investment within five years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh that India considers Vietnam a key pillar of its policy toward Southeast Asian nations and an important partner in its Indo-Pacific vision.