India in Vietnam's Foreign Policy.

The upgrading of Vietnam–India relations from partnership (2003) to strategic partnership (2007) and a comprehensive strategic partnership (2016) is not merely the result of India's Look/Act East Policy. It also reflects Vietnam's high appreciation of the Indian factor in its foreign policy since the Southeast Asian country promoted multilateralism and diversification in its international relations. The article analyses the importance of India in Vietnam's foreign policy since its reform by examining its relations with India in fields of strategic politics, security, and defence which were guidelined in important political documents of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]