The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam, along with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, held a press conference, sharing results of their discussions in Colombo, among which was the elevation of their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.
President Dissanayake shared his delight in welcoming the leading Vietnamese official and his delegation, noting that their visit signifies Viet Nam’s respect for Sri Lanka as a longstanding partner in South Asia.
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He stated that the visit aims to enhance the traditional friendship and boost bilateral cooperation, benefitting both nations and promoting peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. It also offers a chance for both parties to thoroughly assess their collaboration over recent years and determine specific directions and steps to enhance their relationship to a more advanced level of development.
The President commended Viet Nam for its socio-economic accomplishments and expressed confidence that with the CPV's leadership, the nation will keep progressing robustly. He highlighted the enduring friendship between the two countries and stated that the Sri Lankan people have always deeply respected the late President Ho Chi Minh, who was an exceptional leader of the Vietnamese nation and a remarkable cultural icon.
The Sri Lankan leader also conveyed a wish to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in sectors where both countries have significant potential. He also aimed to broaden collaboration in culture, education, religion, and exchanges between their peoples to further solidify their bilateral relationship.
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He proposed that the two nations intensify multilateral cooperation and work closely on regional and international matters of mutual interest to promote peace, stability, and development. During the event, President Dissanayake expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese Government for the thoughtful and practical gifts given to Sri Lanka.
The leaders also shared perspectives on both regional and global matters and concurred that the present circumstances present numerous opportunities and shared interests to enhance bilateral relations.
The two parties agreed to enhance their friendship and partnership further, build greater political trust at a senior level, and broaden cooperation more comprehensively and meaningfully in every area.
The two nations also agreed to enhance practical and mutually advantageous collaboration in areas like economy, trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and science and technology. They committed to implementing breakthrough strategies to reach a bilateral trade target of one billion USD as soon as possible and to work towards a future bilateral trade and investment agreement.
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The highest-ranking leader of Vietnam expressed support for Vietnamese airlines' proposals to start nonstop flights between the two nations, calling this initiative a major advancement in connectivity that will promote collaboration in various areas.