The decision to raise relations to a new level in response to the rapid changes in the global political and economic situation was shared by Dissanayaka and the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (PCV), to LAM, in a meeting the day before.
during the dialogue both expressed their satisfaction with the sustainable development of traditional friendship relations and integral cooperation between the two countries during the last 55 years, which are based on deep strategic confidence and a close cooperation in various fields.
Friendship and mutual understanding are a solid basis to continue effectively exploiting the potentials of each country and raising relations to a new level, both leaders agreed, who also pronounced for expanding cooperation in defense and security, to turn this sphere into a new pillar of bilateral links.
To Lam, who positively valued Sri Lanka’s active role in the UN and welcomed his willingness to intensify cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN), said that Vietnam wishes to accompany that country in economic and social development.
Meanwhile, said the VNA news agency, President Esryanqués applauded this provision and said he will facilitate the investment of Vietnamese companies in his country’s strategic sectors.
Both parties also agreed on expanding collaboration in the sectors of agriculture, education, culture, exchanges between peoples, tourism and religion, as well as promoting the prompt opening of a direct air route between the two countries.
Dissanayaka, who arrived on the eve here on his first visit since he assumed the position in November 2024 and also the first of a head of state of that country since 2009, was officially received this Monday by his homologous Vietnamese, Luong Cuong, in the presidential palace.
During his stay on Vietnamese soil, the president of Sri Lanka will participate as a guest of honor and speaker at the inaugural ceremony of the United Nations Vesak Day, which will be held tomorrow Tuesday in the southern city Ho Chi Minh.
According to official sources, since the establishment of diplomatic relations almost 55 years ago, on July 21, 1970, the links between these two countries have been developing in a sustained way.
Among the most important milestones of these five and a half decades are the visits of Prime Minister Pham Van Dong to Sri Lanka in 1978, that of President Truong Tan Sang in 2011 and that of the Vice Prime Minister and Chancellor Bui Thanh are last February.
For his part, the then Esryanqués president Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Vietnam in 2009 and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe did so in 2017.
ro/mpm
