General Secretary, President To Lam holds talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo
WVR - On the morning of May 8, at the Presidential Palace in Colombo, immediately following the formal welcoming ceremony, General Secretary, President To Lam and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held talks.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in talks. (Source: VNA) |
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake warmly welcomed General Secretary, President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to Sri Lanka, affirming that the visit marks a significant milestone in the history of bilateral relations.
The President congratulated General Secretary, President To Lam on being unanimously elected to his new position by the 16th National Assembly. Emphasizing the long-standing, profound relationship between the two countries that transcends ordinary relations, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake noted that the leadership and people of Sri Lanka always hold sincere and friendly sentiments towards Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, regardless of circumstances. He also expressed admiration for Vietnam as a model of development in the region and the world, and for the Communist Party of Vietnam's leadership in the country's progress.
Moved and sincerely grateful for the warm, heartfelt reception from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the state, and the people of Sri Lanka, General Secretary, President To Lam expressed his pleasure at revisiting the beautiful and hospitable country of Sri Lanka.
General Secretary, President To Lam congratulated Sri Lanka on achieving positive results in macroeconomic stabilization, debt restructuring, and post-crisis recovery (2020-2024), especially in effectively implementing economic reform programs and the "Clean Sri Lanka 2026" initiative. He expressed confidence that under President Dissanayake's leadership, Sri Lanka will enter a trajectory of stable, sustainable growth, successfully achieving development goals and the "Vision 2048" to become a developed nation on the centenary of its independence, living up to its name as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean".
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| General Secretary, President To Lam speaking at the talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (Source: VNA) |
In an atmosphere of openness, sincerity, trust, and mutual understanding, the two leaders informed each other about the situation in their respective countries and expressed delight at the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation that has spanned over half a century, characterized by political trust, loyalty, mutual support, cultural similarities in Buddhism, and active membership in the Non-Aligned Movement.
Recognizing the bilateral relationship as being at its most favorable stage of development, the two leaders discussed strategic cooperation directions to further deepen relations, commensurate with the vast potential available, enhancing bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both countries, and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
Both sides agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries; expand high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels and regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields; strengthen relations between the two ruling parties; and enhance exchanges on theory, foreign policy, and regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two sides agreed to make defense and security cooperation substantive and effective, especially in training United Nations peacekeeping forces, expanding cooperation in information exchange, and transferring defense technology; and enhancing cooperation in maritime security and cybersecurity.
Emphasizing the potential for trade and investment cooperation, the two leaders agreed to implement breakthrough measures to soon achieve the target of one billion USD in trade turnover. General Secretary, President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam is ready to supply the Sri Lankan market with products in which it has strengths and Sri Lanka has demand, such as food, agricultural machinery, etc.
For his part, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed that the Sri Lankan government will facilitate and offer preferential policies for Vietnamese businesses to invest and operate in Sri Lanka; promote cooperation in high-tech agriculture, climate change adaptation, and green transition.
The two leaders also agreed to enhance agricultural cooperation, connect agricultural supply chains, post-harvest preservation technology, fisheries, science and technology, digital transformation, sharing experiences in developing key products, and implementing mutually beneficial research and technology transfer projects between the two countries, aiming for iconic projects.
Both sides agreed to make cultural, educational cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges a key pillar of bilateral relations. Accordingly, they will expand tourism cooperation, especially spiritual tourism; establish direct flights between the two countries, and promote cooperation and linkages between universities and research institutes.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake suggested that Vietnam open branches of some major universities in Sri Lanka.
Responding to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's remarks about the affection and respect the Sri Lankan people have for President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary, President To Lam suggested further promoting cultural cooperation and requested Sri Lanka's support for activities honouring President Ho Chi Minh and spreading Vietnamese culture and language in Sri Lanka.
The General Secretary, President emphasized that both countries should be determined to promptly implement the agreements.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meet the press during the state visit to Sri Lanka. (Source: VNA) |
On international and regional issues of mutual concern, both sides emphasized that in the context of complex global and regional developments, Vietnam and Sri Lanka need to continue to closely coordinate at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Global South Forum.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation, and emphasized the importance of peacefully resolving disputes based on respect for and adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).
Immediately after the talks, General Secretary, President To Lam and President Dissanayake witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in the fields of security, science and technology, culture, information and communication, and co-chaired a joint press conference.
