The two PMs expressed their satisfaction over the growing traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka over the past 47 years since they established diplomatic ties in July 1970.

They agreed to boost affiliation in politics and external affairs via increasing high-level delegation exchanges, and promoting the relations between the Party, State, Government, and parliaments and people-to-people exchanges.

The leaders concurred to implement effectively the current bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the organization of the fourth meeting of the joint committee and the third political consultation this year.

They pledged to step up collaboration in security-defence and share information and experience in legal execution, combating cross-border crime, addressing post-war consequences, and joining the UN peacekeeping activities.

The PMs also underlined the bilateral enormous cooperation potential in trade, economics, and investment. 

To realize the two-way trade target of 1 billion USD in the coming years, the two sides vowed to urge relevant agencies to map out specific measures to deepen bilateral cooperation in the fields of their strength, such as oil and gas, infrastructure, information technology and communication, garment-textile, farm produce processing and distribution, and seafood.

The PMs agreed to actively implement the agreement on investment encouragement and protection and sign new cooperation deals to fit new circumstances.

They were committed to giving priorities to cooperation in other important fields such as energy, tourism, education, human resources development, and cultural exchanges.

They stressed the importance of forging aviation connectivity, which will help promote bilateral trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

The host and guest vowed to closely work together at regional and international forums, while strengthening cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia.

Both sides stressed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea as well as navigation and aviation safety, and removing trade barriers and settling disputes and differences via peaceful means and in line with international law.

After the talks, the PMs witnessed the signing of two cooperation agreements, including the cooperation plan on agricultural development in 2017-2019, and the cooperation agreement on education in 2017-2021 and met with the press. 

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister is paying an official visit to Vietnam from April 16-18 at the invitation of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Party chief vows to share development experience with Sri Lanka

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception in Hanoi on April 17 for Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, during which he affirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) welcomes strengthened cooperative ties with political parties and is ready to share national development experience with Sri Lanka. 

The Party chief spoke highly of the outcomes of the earlier talks and meetings between PM Wickremesinghe and Vietnamese leaders, adding that the CPV and Vietnamese people always attach importance to the long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Sri Lanka.

He suggested the two sides take specific measures to effectively deploy already-signed agreements and wished that the bilateral relationship would continue growing practically and effectively for the benefits of their people. 

The Party leader also conveyed his profound condolences to families of victims in a recent garbage mountain collapse that left at least 26 dead and dozens missing in the suburb of Colombo capital city. 

PM Wickremesinghe, for his part, noted that Sri Lanka always places importance on promoting the time-honoured friendship, people-to-people exchange and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. 

He hoped that the two nations would continue reinforcing bilateral ties and mutual support at multilateral forums, making practical contributions to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

The PM highly evaluated Vietnam’s great achievements in national construction and development and believed that the country would continue developing strongly in the time to come.

VNA