Sri Lanka wants to learn from Vietnam’s development experience

Receiving Tam in Colombo on October 9, Dissanayake reiterated his warm feelings towards the country and people of Vietnam, the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the prominent leaders of Vietnam, especially President Ho Chi Minh, who stopped in Sri Lanka three times while seeking a path for national salvation.

He praised Vietnam’s recent socio-economic development achievements and said Sri Lanka would like to learn from Vietnam’s experiences, particularly in foreign investment attraction, trade exchange, tourism development, and corruption prevention.

According to the president, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have significant potential for cooperation bilaterally and internationally. He suggested that the embassy actively engage with relevant ministries and agencies of Sri Lanka to promote cooperation in specific areas, including mutual investment attraction and striving to increase bilateral trade turnover, as well as establishing direct flights between the two countries and enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

To mark 55 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2025, Dissanayake also agreed on the need to continue facilitating the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka, aiming to make this community a true bridge for Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations.

Ambassador Tam for her part praised Sri Lanka’s notable achievements in sustaining economic growth, controlling inflation and maintaining the welfare of its people. She expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will soon overcome the current difficulties and challenges, continue to develop stably, and successfully hold the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Vietnam supports Sri Lanka’s efforts to overcome the current crisis and is ready to share its experiences in economic recovery and development, including foreign direct investment attraction and tourism development, she said.

The Ambassador expressed hope that during the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, the two countries would strengthen delegation exchanges, and promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms, to outline directions and measures to enhance cooperation in potential areas such as trade, investment, security, education, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and culture.

She expected that the two countries would continue to cooperate and support each other at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, as well as in shared concerns such as responding to climate change and environmental protection.

During the reception, the diplomat also requested that President Dissanayake and the government of Sri Lankar further facilitate the Vietnamese community living in Sri Lanka to contribute to local socio-economic development and bilateral relations.