India hands over missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

INS Kirpan to Vietnam in reflection of growing bilateral strategic and defence partnership amid common concerns over China's increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. It is for the first time that India handed over a fully operational corvette to any friendly foreign country, officials said. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, currently on an official visit to Vietnam, presided over the ceremony at Vietnamese deep water bay of Cam Ranh where the frontline warship was handed over to Vietnam People's Navy. The Indian Navy said the ship has been handed over to Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) with complete «weapon complement». «Today's handing-over ceremony symbolises the deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between India and Vietnam,» Admiral Kumar said in his address at the event. «What makes this occasion even more significant is the fact that this is the first-ever occasion that India is offering a fully-operational Corvette to any friendly foreign country,» he said. The Navy Chief said the transfer of INS Kirpan to the Vietnam People's Navy resonates with India's G20 vision of «Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth, One Family, One Future.»

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Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region. India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. India and Vietnam have been boosting their maritime security cooperation in the last few years to protect common interests. «Today's event serves as a reaffirmation of our commitment to expand and deepen our defence partnership, not only bilaterally but