Following the official welcome ceremony accorded this morning (08) on the Presidential Secretariat to the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and Common Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Occasion of Viet Nam, H.E. Tô Lâm, bilateral discussions have been held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Tô Lâm.
Subsequent to the alternate of Memoranda of Understanding between the 2 international locations, the 2 Heads of State collectively addressed the media at a particular media briefing.
Assertion by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Your Excellency Tô Lâm, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and Common Secretary of the Communist Occasion of Viet Nam ,
Distinguished members of the Viet Names’ delegation,
Honoured company,
Members of the media,
To begin with, on behalf of the Authorities and the folks of Sri Lanka, I prolong a heat welcome to His Excellency Tô Lâm, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Common Secretary of the Communist Occasion of Viet Nam, in addition to the distinguished Vietnamese delegation accompanying him on this historic state go to.
The World Peace Stroll led by the famend Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Venerable Pannakara Thera, additionally handed by Sri Lanka, serving as one other reminder of the centuries-old shut ties between our two nations. As we speak’s go to by the President of Viet Nam to Sri Lanka will additional strengthen the longstanding diplomatic relations between our international locations.
It have to be recognised that, on the worldwide political stage, we view Viet Nam not merely as one other state, however as an emblem of unwavering resistance towards imperialism and a dwelling instance of outstanding financial transformation.
Viet Nam possesses a historic legacy that impressed the liberation struggles of oppressed nations internationally, a narrative that has been inscribed in golden letters in world historical past. The way through which Viet Nam was rebuilt underneath the brave management of nice leaders reminiscent of Ho Chi Minh, amidst immense challenges, stays really outstanding. We commend Viet Nam for its transformation from a nation as soon as confronted by hardship into one of many main manufacturing and financial centres in Southeast Asia.
I’m significantly happy that, following his assumption of workplace, His Excellency President Tô Lâm has chosen Sri Lanka as a part of his first state go to to the South Asian area.
For a rustic reminiscent of Sri Lanka, which deeply values freedom and independence, it’s a matter of nice satisfaction to strengthen ties with a nation that possesses a proud and resilient historical past reminiscent of Viet Nam. We regard this event as an vital and symbolic reflection of the deep friendship and longstanding relationship between our two international locations.
I additionally prolong my heat congratulations to His Excellency President Tô Lâm on being reappointed each as President of Viet Nam and as Common Secretary of the Communist Occasion of Viet Nam. The renewed mandate entrusted to him is a transparent reflection of the arrogance positioned in his management by the folks of Viet Nam. I’m assured that, underneath his continued steering, Viet Nam will rise to even larger heights as an already affluent and dynamic nation.
President Tô Lâm’s state go to marks a historic milestone within the diplomatic relations between our two international locations. Reflecting the maturity, power and future potential of our bilateral engagement, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam agreed at this time to raise the present diplomatic relationship right into a broader and extra complete partnership.
A short time in the past, President Tô Lâm and I held in depth and productive bilateral discussions. We performed a complete evaluation of the present state of relations between our two international locations and explored avenues to additional strengthen cooperation throughout a variety of sectors.
I recommended Viet Nam’s outstanding achievements in manufacturing, export development and integration into international worth chains. I additionally briefed His Excellency on Sri Lanka’s important financial progress following current challenges.
Each our international locations regard this as a well timed alternative to additional strengthen financial cooperation. We share the target of accelerating bilateral commerce to USD 1 billion by 2030.
I additionally expressed my appreciation to His Excellency for together with a Vietnamese enterprise delegation comprising round fifty representatives, demonstrating sturdy confidence in Sri Lanka’s funding local weather and strategic potential. An financial and funding promotion programme involving the visiting enterprise delegation has additionally been organised this afternoon.
I invited Vietnamese enterprises to discover funding and enterprise alternatives in Sri Lanka’s precedence sectors, together with renewable vitality, logistics, infrastructure growth, tourism and manufacturing. Sri Lanka’s strategic location within the Indian Ocean and its evolving financial outlook create appreciable potential for mutually useful partnerships between our two international locations.
Sri Lanka additionally welcomed the choice by Vietnam Airways and VietJet Air to start direct flights between Colombo and the Vietnamese cities of Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Hanoi later this 12 months. I consider this initiative is not going to solely improve tourism, but additionally strengthen commerce, funding and people-to-people connectivity between our nations.
Power cooperation was one other vital space of debate. Sri Lanka stays dedicated to transitioning in the direction of clear and sustainable vitality sources. On this regard, we mentioned alternatives for cooperation, significantly within the fields of photo voltaic and wind vitality. We additionally explored rising areas of collaboration reminiscent of electrical mobility and electrical car manufacturing.
As Sri Lanka advances on its transformative journey in the direction of constructing a digital financial system, we additionally mentioned alternatives for cooperation in areas reminiscent of info know-how, synthetic intelligence and digital public infrastructure. We consider nearer collaboration in these sectors will foster innovation and create new financial alternatives for our folks.
Agriculture stays an important sector for each international locations. We mentioned Viet Nam’s spectacular achievements in agricultural modernisation, mechanisation and export competitiveness. We additionally agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas reminiscent of know-how switch, capability constructing and post-harvest administration so as to enhance productiveness and sustainability inside the agricultural sector.
As we speak, the Authorities of Viet Nam donated 100 metric tonnes of urea and tremendous phosphate fertiliser to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka expresses its honest appreciation to the folks and Authorities of Viet Nam for this beneficiant contribution and for responding positively to Sri Lanka’s request for fertiliser help.
We additionally mentioned defence cooperation between our two international locations. Reaffirming our shared dedication to regional peace and stability, we agreed to reinforce cooperation in areas reminiscent of coaching, information alternate and participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The continued development of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam is additional strengthened by the shut cultural ties and people-to-people connections shared between our nations. The three visits made to Sri Lanka by President Ho Chi Minh, thought to be the founding father of recent Viet Nam, stay enduring symbols of the deep friendship between our two international locations. Along with His Excellency President Tô Lâm, I can even pay tribute on the Ho Chi Minh statue and take part within the ceremony marking the growth of the Ho Chi Minh part on the Colombo Public Library.
Following our discussions, a number of bilateral Memoranda of Understanding have been signed overlaying areas reminiscent of science and know-how, police cooperation, info and communications, in addition to non secular and cultural cooperation, additional strengthening ties between our two international locations.
Each Sri Lanka and Viet Nam have overcome harmful conflicts and makes an attempt at territorial division. As we speak, each nations are rising and creating economies in Asia with comparable per capita revenue ranges. Sri Lanka is Viet Nam’s fourth-largest buying and selling accomplice within the area. The strategic positioning of each international locations alongside main worldwide maritime routes gives distinctive benefits for bilateral and multilateral commerce, in addition to for joint ventures. There may be immense potential for each nations to harness these alternatives for shared prosperity.
In conclusion, I as soon as once more specific my honest appreciation to His Excellency President Tô Lâm and the distinguished Vietnamese delegation for enterprise this state go to to Sri Lanka and for the enduring friendship shared between our two international locations.
We reaffirm our dedication to working collectively to construct a proud and affluent future for each nations by sensible cooperation within the fields of know-how, defence and financial growth.
Could the friendship between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam endure for generations to return.
Assertion by President Tô Lâm of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
It offers me, along with the high-level Vietnamese delegation accompanying me, nice pleasure to go to the attractive and hospitable land of Sri Lanka, sometimes called the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” I want to specific my honest gratitude to Your Excellency, the Authorities and the folks of Sri Lanka for the nice and cozy, gracious and heartfelt welcome prolonged to us.
Initially, I want to prolong my heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency the President and the Authorities of Sri Lanka on the achievements you might have attained, significantly in your financial journey. We’re happy to witness the progress that has been made in bettering the dwelling requirements of the folks of Sri Lanka. The constructive transformation happening in your nation, which possesses a brilliant and promising future, is clearly evident to us and we’re assured that Sri Lanka will quickly realise its growth aspirations.
We held extremely profitable discussions. For greater than 55 years because the institution of diplomatic relations, our two international locations have constructed a long-standing friendship based upon mutual belief and cooperation, which we enormously worth. We additionally mentioned additional measures to strengthen this partnership and explored the numerous alternatives that exist between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka.
We centered specific consideration on areas of mutual significance and shared curiosity so as to elevate our international locations to larger heights. Either side are dedicated to enhancing a broad-based partnership. We share a standard imaginative and prescient on regional and international points and we recognised that this can be a well timed alternative for Viet Nam and Sri Lanka to raise bilateral relations to a brand new stage. On this spirit, President Dissanayake and I agreed to improve Viet Nam–Sri Lanka relations to a Complete Partnership.
It’s important that we additional strengthen financial, political and safety cooperation between our two nations. Accordingly, we agreed to strengthen political, defence and safety cooperation primarily based on mutual belief, understanding and respect. We additionally agreed to strengthen ties amongst political events, governments, parliaments and peoples, whereas selling high-level exchanges and sustaining bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
In taking ahead these initiatives, we’ve recognized targets to reinforce bilateral commerce. Either side agreed to take swift measures to attain the purpose of accelerating bilateral commerce turnover to US$1 billion by strengthening mutually useful cooperation within the fields of financial system, commerce, funding, agriculture, vitality, science and know-how. We additionally agreed to work in the direction of a future bilateral settlement on commerce and funding. Vietnamese entrepreneurs are ready to broaden their investments in Sri Lanka, with the goal of contributing to the nation’s socio-economic growth whereas creating strategic and symbolic initiatives that additional strengthen ties between our two nations.
On the similar time, we should always proceed exploring avenues to strengthen academic, cultural, non secular and people-to-people exchanges. Our two international locations share a long-standing historic and cultural bond, based upon schooling, tourism and interpersonal connections. We’re grateful for the respect proven by Sri Lanka in the direction of President Hồ Chí Minh, the good chief of the Vietnamese nation and a globally revered cultural determine. We sit up for constantly selling these noble cultural and non secular values among the many peoples of each international locations.
We additionally mentioned new avenues of cooperation to reinforce air connectivity and set up improved Viet Nam–Sri Lanka aviation hyperlinks. This may function an vital milestone in paving the best way for stronger cooperation throughout many sectors.
Particularly, we additionally centered on points that require worldwide consideration, together with regional peace and stability. We emphasised the significance of making certain freedom and safety of maritime navigation, in accordance with worldwide legislation. We reaffirmed the significance of peace, stability, the rule of legislation and the liberty of navigation and over-flight in seas and oceans, together with the East Sea.
By way of this Complete Partnership, we are able to sit up for broader and extra sustainable cooperation sooner or later. Collectively, we are able to create larger peace, prosperity and growth for the folks of our two nations.
Mr. President, as soon as once more, I want to thanks and the folks of Sri Lanka for the nice and cozy welcome and beneficiant help prolonged to us.
