Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Trinh Thi Tam, highlighted the prospects for Vietnam–Sri Lanka relations prior to the state visit by To Lam, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President, to the South Asian country scheduled for May 7-8.
Tam mentioned that the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka has consistently strengthened in various areas since the establishment of diplomatic relations on July 21, 1970.
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One notable aspect of their relationship is the exceptional level of political trust and uncommon stability. Sri Lanka was one of the first South Asian countries to establish a relationship with Vietnam and has consistently supported Vietnam during challenging times.
Both nations have maintained regular interactions at all levels, collaborated closely, and supported each other in international and regional forums, especially within the United Nations, South–South cooperation frameworks, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). They share mutual values of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development, providing a strong foundation for more profound and meaningful collaboration in other fields.
From an economic perspective, the scale of two-way trade is relatively modest, but it has maintained a consistent growth rate with a complementary framework. In the past few years, the trade turnover has approached 300−400 million USD, and both nations aim to reach 1 billion USD soon, indicating a robust political commitment.
The trade dynamics are mostly complementary instead of competitive: Vietnam's exports focus on electronics, clothing, and industrial goods, while Sri Lanka excels in tea, rubber, yarn, and agricultural commodities, fostering optimal conditions for enhancing supply chain collaboration.
Other sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, education, culture, tourism, religion, and interactions between people have also made significant strides, aided by common geographical, historical, and cultural elements. Although there have been improvements, challenges remain, such as the geographical distance, limited logistics and transport connectivity, relatively small market size, and the effects of global economic fluctuations on trade and investment. To tackle these limitations, both parties have implemented a series of actions.
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Overall, Tam mentioned that the relationship between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka has evolved from a traditional friendship to a more meaningful, development-focused partnership, with a lot of unexplored potential. The partnership stands on a strong foundation, backed by a common resolve from both governments and their citizens, and their economies complement each other naturally, which will allow their bilateral ties to become stronger, more effective, and more strategic in the future.
She explained that the Vietnamese leader's forthcoming visit holds strategic importance and long-term purpose, particularly since the two nations recently celebrated 55 years of diplomatic relations. They are also aiming to enhance their cooperation amid a shifting global environment.
The visit highlights Vietnam's recognition of Sri Lanka as an enduring partner in South Asia. It also provides a chance for both nations to review over fifty years of cooperation and growth, and to determine specific strategies and actions to elevate their bilateral relationship to new heights.
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As both economies are experiencing significant transformations, the visit is expected to strengthen political trust and provide an opportunity to explore ways to enhance economic, trade, and investment relations. The goal will also be to increase cooperation in promising fields such as agriculture, advanced technology, fisheries, education and training, tourism, and logistics, with the possibility of new agreements being signed or progressing.