A powerful diplomatic milestone was marked today (May 5) as Sri Lanka and Vietnam signed four major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one pivotal agreement, signaling a new chapter of cooperation across trade, agriculture, industry, and diplomacy.
The high-level signing ceremony took place at the Vietnamese Presidential Palace in the presence of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, following successful bilateral discussions between the two nations.
Among the key agreements was a bilateral customs cooperation pact, establishing mechanisms for mutual assistance in customs matters between the two countries.
The four MoUs signed include:
- A Machinery Manufacturing Cooperation MoU between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development.
- An Agricultural Cooperation MoU between Vietnam’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture.
- A Diplomatic Training MoU between Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
- A Trade Promotion MoU between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board (EDB).
These agreements open the doors for cross-border collaboration through expert exchanges, diplomatic training, joint research, and technical programs. The diplomacy-focused MoUs pave the way for deeper understanding through seminars, research activities, and scholar exchanges, aimed at strengthening international relations.
On the trade front, the agreements are poised to enhance opportunities in processed foods, fisheries, apparel, and value-added agriculture, while fostering active collaboration in exhibitions, trade fairs, and market intelligence sharing between both nations.
As Vietnam and Sri Lanka align closer, these sweeping agreements signal a bold leap toward economic growth, knowledge sharing, and regional integration.
