Vietnam seeks collaboration with Sri Lanka in social-economic progress.
Let's chop it up:
General Secretary Tô Lâm and Sri Lanka's Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had a powwow in Hà Nội on Sunday, discussing cooperation and development. The Sri Lankan leader is on a visit until Tuesday, joining in on the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations.
Tô Lâm welcomed the President, praising his speech at the Vesak Buddha Day celebrations and thanking him for his congratulatory letter on the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the Reunification of Việt Nam. The General Secretary also congratulated Dissanayaka for clinching the Sri Lankan elections in late 2024, noting the result signified the Sri Lankan people's trust in him and the JVP Party.
Meanwhile, President Dissanayaka applauded the longstanding bond between Việt Nam and Sri Lanka, reiterating Sri Lanka's support for Việt Nam during its historic victory of April 30, 1975. He was impressed by Việt Nam's economic growth and expressed a desire to learn from its experience in development, institutional reforms, anti-corruption measures, and governance.
Both sides were delighted with the advancements in their 55-year-old friendship and agreed to foster deeper cooperation and elevate their relationship to new heights. They vowed to boost trust and cohesion, promote exchanges at all levels, make defense and security cooperation a new pillar, and breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment cooperation to adapt to global changes.
Sri Lanka's President promised to create favorable conditions for Việt Nam's businesses to invest in crucial sectors like infrastructure and energy. Both leaders also agreed to extend cooperation in agriculture, education, culture, tourism, religion, and speed up direct flight routes for enhanced cooperation and connectivity.
They further elected to strengthen their collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums, such as the UN, and in South-South cooperation. General Secretary Tô Lâm commended Sri Lanka for its UN membership and encourages Sri Lanka to bolster cooperation with ASEAN. President Dissanayaka extended an invitation for Tô Lâm to visit Sri Lanka soon.
Behind the scenes:Recent years have seen strengthened economic and diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Bilateral trade stands at around $200 million annually, with a goal to reach $1 billion in the near future. Sri Lanka hosts more than 30 active projects by Vietnam with a cumulative investment of $43.07 million. Talks focus on accelerating sectors like agriculture, finance, and transport. Key agreements are the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (2005) and Air Transport Agreement (2012). Defense cooperation is taking a more prominent role in their relationship, with Vietnam endorsing Sri Lanka's engagement with ASEAN.
Food for thought:This strategic partnership centres on leveraging each country's strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, and regional diplomacy for mutual growth and joint strategies to tackle economic volatility.
Party General Secretary Tô Lâm with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Hà Nội on Sunday. - VNA/VNS Photo
- The discussion between Tô Lâm and Dissanayake highlighted the potential for deeper cooperation in various sectors, including business, culture, education, and agriculture.
- Dissanayake expressed interest in learning from Việt Nam's experience in development, institutional reforms, anti-corruption measures, and governance.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, both leaders agreed to collaborate and support each other at multilateral forums, such as the UN and South-South cooperation.
- Dissanayake applauded Việt Nam's economic growth and promised to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest in crucial sectors like infrastructure and energy.
- The advancements in their 55-year-old friendship were expected to lead to breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment cooperation, adapting to global changes.
- In the general news, it was confirmed that bilateral trade between the two countries stands at around $200 million annually, with a goal to reach $1 billion in the near future.
- To demonstrate their commitment to this strategic partnership, both leaders agreed to extend cooperation in sectors like agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and religion, and speed up direct flight routes for enhanced cooperation and connectivity.
- After the meeting, ASEAN was encouraged by Tô Lâm to bolster cooperation with Sri Lanka, with Vietnam endorsing Sri Lanka's engagement with ASEAN.
- The visit of President Dissanayaka to Hà Nội concluded with an invitation for Tô Lâm to visit Sri Lanka soon, fostering even closer ties between the two nations.
