Vietnam Sri Lanka relations were upgraded through five agreements covering defence, tourism, technology, religion, culture and economic cooperation.
Vietnam Sri Lanka relations entered a significant new phase as the two countries signed five agreements aimed at deepening cooperation across modern economic, security, cultural, scientific, religious, and technological sectors.
The agreements were exchanged on the morning of the 8th at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam.
The new agreements are expected to strengthen cooperation in tourism, defence relations, religious affairs, civil engagement, commercial activity, transport, economic development, science, and technology. They also mark a broader effort by both governments to move their long-standing diplomatic relationship toward a more modern and strategic partnership.
Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding between the People’s Police Academy of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Sri Lanka National Police Academy was exchanged to promote cooperation in police training and scientific research.
The agreement was exchanged by General Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, and Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala.
A separate Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam was also exchanged to strengthen cooperation in science and technology.
That agreement was exchanged by Mr. Vu Hai Quan, Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam, and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena.
Another Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khang, Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam, and Professor Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka on cultural cooperation was exchanged.
This agreement was exchanged by Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, and Professor Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
A further Memorandum of Understanding covering cooperation in the information and communication technology sector between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Health and Media of Sri Lanka was also exchanged.
It was exchanged by Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, and Deputy Minister of Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne.
On the same occasion, a fertilizer consignment of 100 metric tons donated by the Government of Vietnam to Sri Lanka was officially handed over.
The consignment was presented by Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan and Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu, Director General of the Vietnam National Chemical Group, to Mr. D.P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The visit followed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to Vietnam in 2025, which marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The state visit by the Vietnamese President took place at the invitation of the Sri Lankan President, further underlining the continuing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Senior ministers of the Vietnamese government and a group of prominent political leaders, including the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, also joined the visit.
Following the exchange of the Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries, the Presidents of both nations addressed a joint media briefing.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lanka viewed Vietnam not merely as another state in the world political landscape, but as an enduring symbol of resistance against imperialism and a living example of economic transformation.
“In the world political landscape, we must remember that we see Vietnam not merely as another state, but as an unwavering pride against imperialism as well as a living testament to economic transformation,” President Dissanayake said.
He said Vietnam possessed a historic narrative that had added a powerful chapter to the liberation struggles of oppressed nations, and that this chapter should be remembered as one written in golden letters in world history.
The President said the manner in which Vietnam was built under the guidance of great leaders such as Ho Chi Minh, with courage amid immense challenges, remained astonishing.
He extended Sri Lanka’s congratulations to Vietnam for its transformation from a Southeast Asian country shaped by hardship into a major manufacturing hub that today stands as living testimony to the ability to overcome difficulty.
President Dissanayake said he was pleased that immediately after assuming office, His Excellency To Lam undertook his first state visit to Sri Lanka in the South Asian region.
He said it was a matter of immense joy for a state that values freedom, like Sri Lanka, to become so close to a country with the history of Vietnam.
Sri Lanka, he said, regarded the occasion as an important and symbolic moment that reflected the deep friendship and long-standing relations between the two countries.
President Dissanayake also extended his warm congratulations to His Excellency President To Lam on his re-appointment as the President of Vietnam and as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
He said the renewed mandate given to President To Lam was clear evidence of the trust placed in his leadership by the people of Vietnam.
President Dissanayake said he believed that under To Lam’s continued guidance, Vietnam, which is already becoming a prosperous country, would reach even greater heights in the years ahead.
He said President To Lam’s state visit marked a historic juncture in diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
He recalled that Sri Lanka and Vietnam had agreed to elevate their existing diplomatic relations to a comprehensive partnership, reflecting the maturity, strength, and future potential of their bilateral ties.
President Dissanayake said both countries considered this a timely opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation.
He said the two governments had set a target to increase bilateral trade to US$ 1 billion by 2030.
The President invited Vietnamese entrepreneurs to explore investment and business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s priority sectors, including renewable energy, logistics, infrastructure development, tourism, and manufacturing.
He said Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its improving economic outlook created major potential for partnerships that would benefit both countries.
Sri Lanka also thanked Vietnam for the decision by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air to commence direct flights between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi from this year.
President Dissanayake said he believed these air links would not only boost tourism but also improve trade, investment, and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
He said energy cooperation was another important area discussed during the engagement.
Sri Lanka, he said, is committed to transitioning toward clean and sustainable energy sources. In that context, both sides discussed opportunities for cooperation, particularly in solar and wind energy.
The two countries also discussed potential cooperation in emerging sectors such as electric mobility and electric vehicle manufacturing.
President Dissanayake said Sri Lanka is moving forward on a transformative journey to build a digital economy.
As part of that process, Sri Lanka and Vietnam discussed opportunities for cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure.
He said close cooperation in these fields would help foster innovation and create new economic opportunities for the people of both countries.
Agriculture, the President said, is a very important sector for both nations.
He said discussions also covered Vietnam’s impressive progress in agricultural modernisation, mechanisation, and export competitiveness.
Both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in technology exchange, capacity development, and post-harvest management to improve productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, To Lam, said he was very pleased to visit Sri Lanka along with the high-level delegation from Vietnam.
He described Sri Lanka as a beautiful country, known as the “pearl of the Indian Ocean,” and full of hospitality.
“I am very pleased, along with the high-level delegation of Vietnam, to visit Sri Lanka, which is as beautiful as the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’ and full of hospitality,” President To Lam said.
He thanked President Dissanayake, the Government of Sri Lanka, and the people for the warm, respectful, and heartfelt welcome extended to the Vietnamese delegation.
President To Lam first extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Dissanayake and his government on the victories they had achieved.
He said Vietnam was especially pleased with Sri Lanka’s achievements on the economic path.
Through those achievements, he said, Sri Lanka had improved the living standards of its people.
President To Lam said Vietnam clearly saw the positive changes taking place in Sri Lanka, a country he described as having a beautiful and promising future.
He said Vietnam was confident that Sri Lanka would very soon achieve its development goals.
The Vietnamese President said the discussions between the two sides had been very successful.
He said Vietnam highly valued the long-standing friendship, mutual trust, and cooperation built between the two countries over more than 55 years of diplomatic relations.
The two sides discussed further steps to be taken to strengthen that relationship and explored the opportunities available between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
President To Lam said greater attention was paid to fields that are important and of common interest to both countries as they seek further advancement.
He said both nations are committed to enhancing a broad partnership.
The two countries, he said, share a common vision at regional and global levels.
He added that both sides recognised there are many opportunities for Vietnam and Sri Lanka to elevate bilateral relations to a new level at this critical juncture.
With that sentiment in mind, President To Lam said he and President Dissanayake agreed to elevate Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.
He said it is essential to enhance and strengthen economic, defence, and political cooperation between the two countries.
Accordingly, the two leaders agreed to further strengthen high-level exchanges and contacts between parties, states, parliaments, and peoples.
They also agreed to maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms and to strengthen political, defence, and security cooperation based on mutual trust, understanding, and respect.
President To Lam said both countries had set clear targets to increase bilateral trade.
He said they agreed to take prompt measures to achieve the target of US$ 1 billion in bilateral trade turnover.
The two sides also agreed to work toward a bilateral trade and investment agreement in the future.
He said cooperation would be enhanced in the economic, trade, investment, agriculture, energy, science, and technology sectors in a mutually beneficial manner.
President To Lam said Vietnamese entrepreneurs are prepared to expand investments in Sri Lanka.
Their aim, he said, is to create strategic and symbolic projects between the two countries while contributing to Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development.
He said both nations must also explore different avenues to strengthen educational, cultural, religious, and people-to-people contacts.
There is, he said, a very long-standing historical and cultural connection between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
The foundation of that connection is built on education, tourism, and people-to-people interaction.
President To Lam said Vietnam was grateful for Sri Lanka’s respect for President Ho Chi Minh, whom he described as a great leader of the Vietnamese nation and a globally revered cultural figure.
He said Vietnam hoped to continuously promote these noble cultural and spiritual values among the people of both countries.
The two countries also discussed new cooperation possibilities for strengthening air services between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
President To Lam said this would become a juncture leading to stronger cooperation across many sectors.
He said the two sides also paid special attention to matters of international concern.
Regional peace and stability were among the key issues discussed.
He said freedom and security must be ensured in maritime navigation, and stressed the need to act in accordance with international law.
Accordingly, the two sides focused on the importance of maintaining peace, stability, the rule of law, and freedom of navigation and overflight in seas and oceans, including the East Sea.
President To Lam said the Comprehensive Partnership created room for broader and more sustainable cooperation.
He said both countries could create development through peace and prosperity for their people.
He once again thanked President Dissanayake for the warm welcome and support extended to him, his delegation, and the people of Vietnam.
