Chairing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam briefed participants on the key milestones in the relations between the two countries.

She said Vietnam and Sri Lanka have a long-standing traditional friendship. Despite difficult periods, over the past half century, the relationship has continuously developed and expanded in many fields, from politics, security, and defence, to economy, trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries, culture, and education. The two countries have regularly supported each other at international forums, especially the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

In recent years, bilateral trade has reached about US$300-350 million per year. Sri Lanka has invested in around 30 projects in Vietnam while there are four Vietnamese restaurants in Sri Lanka. Cultural and Buddhist cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges are increasingly developing, becoming a cornerstone in the relationship between the two countries.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy will organise a monthly quiz from January to June covering Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations, a logo design contest, and a celebration of the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam with the participation of representatives from Sri Lankan political parties.

There will be high-level visits and meetings, as well as meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms to promote collaboration in various channels and fields, and a Vietnamese Film Week and a Vietnamese Cuisine Week. A joint stamp is set to be released, featuring important milestones in the bilateral relationship over the past 55 years.

Ambassador Tam affirmed that her embassy will continue to act as a bridge in promoting bilateral relations across the pillars of politics-diplomacy, economy and culture.

At the press conference, the embassy launched the logo design contest on the bilateral ties, running from March to May, and introduced a song praising the relationship between the two countries, composed by Sri Lankan musician Mohomed Iqbal.

After the event, participants enjoyed Vietnamese dishes prepared by a Vietnamese restaurant in Colombo and viewed a photo collection on Vietnam and the Vietnam-Sri Lanka relationship.

Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang meets leaders of Sri Lanka, Japan in Tokyo

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang met with President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Hosoda Hiroyuki, and three co-chairmen of the Vietnam - Japan economic cooperation committee of the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN) in Tokyo on May 26.