Sri Lanka hopes to strengthen ties with Vietnam
Sri Lanka attaches great importance to fostering friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa made the statement during talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang, who is currently making an official visit to the country.
Rajapaksa expressed his strong impressions of Vietnam’s rapid development during his visit to the country two years ago. He said he believes that Vietnam will gain greater achievements in its national construction and improve its status in the regional and international arenas.
For his part, President Sang congratulated Sri Lanka on its stability and affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of enhancing ties with the South Asian country.
Vietnam is willing to share experiences in the process of national reconstruction in the post war period, Mr Sang said.
Both Presidents reached a consensus to strengthen cooperation in oil and gas, agriculture, aquaculture, telecommunications, mechanics, security and national defence.
They also agreed to foster ties at regional and international forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the South-South Cooperation.
Also at the meeting, the two state leaders witnessed the signing of eight cooperation documents including memoranda of understanding on mechanical manufacture, national defence cooperation, financial cooperation, bilateral political consultations between the two foreign ministries, bilateral investment encouragement, education, oil and gas, and a contract between the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and its Sri Lankan counterparts.