•  Sri Lanka sounds out cooperation opportunities in Vietnam

At the meeting, the two FMs informed each other about the situations in their respective countries and discussed measures to boost future relations.

FM Minh said FM Peiris’ visit to Vietnam is very significant for further promoting the time-honoured friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan minister said he is impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic progress and hopes the country will gain even greater achievements in the future.

The two FMs said they are very pleased with the positive recent developments in bilateral relations and agreed to implement the agreements signed during State President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Sri Lanka in October 2011, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation in politics, national security and defence, economics, trade, investment, oil and gas, culture and education.

They also set a target to bring two-way trade turnover to US$1 billion by 2015 and study the feasibility of signing a future preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the two countries.

Both sides will maintain their close coordination and cooperation at regional and international forums. They said ensuring maritime security and safety and settling disputes should done peacefully and based on international law.

Sri Lanka pledged to support Vietnam’s candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in the 2014-2016 term as well as its participation in the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) in Nigeria next year.