General secretary and president To Lam's visit is scheduled for 7-8/5, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit aims to strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, a South Asian nation with a Buddhist majority, has seen growing cultural, Buddhist, and people-to-people exchanges become a key pillar in bilateral relations.

General secretary and president To Lam. *Ngoc Thanh*

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake previously made a state visit to Vietnam in 5/2025, where he also attended the United Nations Vesak Day celebration.

Economically, Sri Lanka has recognized Vietnam as having a full market economy. In 2025, bilateral trade turnover reached approximately 260 million USD, an increase of 20% compared to 2024. Both nations aim to soon achieve 1 billion USD in two-way trade turnover. The two countries also maintain good cooperation in international and regional forums.

During his visit last year, president Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka would create favorable conditions to encourage Vietnamese businesses to invest in strategic sectors where Sri Lanka has high demand: infrastructure, telecommunications, education, healthcare, high-tech agriculture, agricultural and food processing, retail, logistics, and tourism.

The Sri Lankan president also pledged to continue facilitating the Vietnamese community living, studying, and doing business in Sri Lanka, including Vietnamese monks and nuns pursuing Buddhist teachings. Sri Lanka encourages the development of Vietnamese pagodas, meditation centers, and Buddhist establishments within the country.

Vietnam and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on 21/7/1970.

Thanh Danh