During a press conference today in Colombo, following talks with General Secretary and President To Lam, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his desire to further strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in potential areas. He also sought to expand cultural, educational, religious, and people-to-people exchanges, aiming to consolidate the relationship between the two nations, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

General Secretary and President To Lam and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the press on 8/5. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

General Secretary and President To Lam stated that both sides agreed that, at this pivotal moment, Vietnam and Sri Lanka share many similar opportunities and interests to elevate their relationship to a new level.

The two sides agreed to upgrade Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations to a comprehensive partnership, committing to further consolidate and strengthen friendly cooperation. This includes establishing a high level of political trust and expanding the scope and depth of cooperation towards comprehensive and substantive engagement in all fields.

The two nations will deepen political, defense, and security cooperation based on mutual trust, understanding, and respect. They will further enhance high-level exchanges and contacts across all channels: Party, state, parliament, and people-to-people exchanges, while regularly maintaining bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Vietnam and Sri Lanka will strengthen cooperation in economics, trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and science-technology in a substantive and mutually beneficial manner. They will implement breakthrough measures to quickly achieve the target of 1 billion USD in trade turnover and work towards a bilateral trade and investment agreement between the two countries in the future.

General Secretary and President To Lam speaking during the press conference. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

General Secretary and President To Lam welcomed Vietnamese airlines opening direct flights between the two countries, considering this a breakthrough in connectivity that will create favorable conditions to strengthen cooperation in many fields.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also expressed a desire for both sides to strengthen multilateral cooperation and coordinate closely on regional and international issues of mutual concern, fostering peace, stability, and development cooperation.

General Secretary and President To Lam concluded a two-day state visit to Sri Lanka on 7-8/5, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

During the official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Colombo this morning, Sri Lanka fired a 21-gun salute to welcome General Secretary and President To Lam.

This state visit by the General Secretary and President to Sri Lanka helps consolidate the traditional friendship and strengthen the bonds between the leaders and people of both countries, forged throughout history. It will serve as an important political milestone, creating fresh impetus and initiating a new phase of development for relations, marked by enhanced political trust and more extensive, effective, and substantive cooperation.

Huyen Le