NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins another Asian sojourn, as he heads off on Friday afternoon to attend the G-20 summit in Hangzhou, China, making a politically important stop at Vietnam en route. India is expected to give four patrol boats to Vietnam, a transfer holding significance in the context of Vietnam's claims against China in South China Sea.India has a couple of oil exploration blocks given by Vietnam which fall within the 9-dash-line. MEA secretary Preeti Saran said India would get additional blocks from Vietnam. China wants India to refrain from undertaking oil exploration in the Vietnamese blocks in order to ensure "peace and stability" in the South China Sea. The issue is likely to be discussed in depth with Vietnam.After Vietnam, Modi will leave for Hangzhou to attend the G-20 summit on September 4 and 5.

Source: Times of India September 01, 2016 23:11 UTC