President Anura Kumara Dissanayake warmly welcomed To Lam and his high-level Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to Sri Lanka, affirming that the visit marks an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations. He also congratulated To Lam on being elected by the 16th National Assembly with unanimous support to his new position.

Emphasising that bilateral ties are longstanding and profound, extending beyond ordinary bilateral relations, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lankan leaders and people have always held sincere and friendly sentiments towards Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh under all circumstances. He also expressed admiration for Vietnam as a model of development in the region and the world, as well as for the Communist Party of Vietnam for leading Vietnam’s development to where it is today.

Vietnam’s top leader congratulated Sri Lanka on its majror achievements in stabilising the macroeconomy, restructuring debt and recovering from the 2020-2024 crisis, particularly the effective implementation of economic reform programmes and the “Clean Sri Lanka 2026” initiative.

He expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka would return to a path of stable and sustainable growth, successfully realise its development goals and “Vision 2048” strategy to become a developed country by the centenary of its independence, worthy of its title as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.”

In an atmosphere of openness, sincerity, trust and mutual understanding, the two leaders briefed each other on the situation in their respective countries and expressed satisfaction with the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation built over more than half a century. They highlighted political trust, wholehearted support, cultural similarities rooted in Buddhism and the active roles both countries play in the Non-Aligned Movement.

Noting that bilateral relations are in their strongest phase of development, host and guest discussed broad directions for cooperation to deepen bilateral ties in line with the vasst potential of both countries, elevating cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

The two sides agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries. They consented to expand exchanges and contacts at all levels and regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across sectors, while strengthening ties between the two ruling parties and intensifying exchanges on theoretical and policy issues, foreign policy, and regional and international issues of shared concern.

They concurred to make defence and security cooperation more substantive and effective, particularly in United Nations peacekeeping training, while expanding cooperation in information sharing and defence technology transfer, as well as strengthening maritime security and cybersecurity cooperation.

Highlighting the strong potential for trade and investment cooperation, the two leaders agreed to implement breakthrough measures to soon achieve the target of US$1 billion in bilateral trade. To Lam affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to supply Sri Lanka with products in which Vietnam has strengths and Sri Lanka has demand, including food, food products and agricultural machinery.

For his part, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed that the Sri Lankan Government would facilitate and offer incentives for Vietnamese enterprises investing and doing business in Sri Lanka, while bolstering cooperation in high-tech agriculture, climate change adaptation and green transition.

The leaders also agreed to step up cooperation in agriculture, agricultural supply chain connectivity, post-harvest preservation technology, fisheries, science and technology, and digital transformation. They will share experience in developing key export products and conduct mutually beneficial research and technology transfer projects, aiming to develop symbolic projects between the two nations.

Both sides will make cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges an important pillar of bilateral relations. Under the agreement, the two countries will expand tourism cooperation, particularly spiritual tourism, open direct air routes between the two countries, and enhance cooperation and linkages between universities and research institutes.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also proposed that Vietnam open branches of several major universities in Sri Lanka.

Responding to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s remarks on the Sri Lankan people’s affection and respect for President Ho Chi Minh, To Lam said the two countries should further promote cultural cooperation and proposed that Sri Lanka support activities honouring President Ho Chi Minh, as well as efforts to promote Vietnamese culture and language in Sri Lanka. He emphasized that both countries should move quickly to carry out the agreements reached.

On regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides stressed that amid increasingly complex global and regional developments, Vietnam and Sri Lanka should continue close coordination at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Global South Forum.

Both sides sides also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation, while underscoring the importance of peacefully settling disputes on the basis of respect for and compliance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Following the talks, To Lam and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents in the fields of security, science and technology, culture, information and communications, and co-chaired a joint press briefing.

Vietnam, Sri Lanka upgrade relations to Comprehensive Partnership

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met the press on the morning of May 8 (local time) following their high-level talks and after witnessing the exchange of cooperation documents between both nations’ ministries and agencies.