Top leader’s State visit to Sri Lanka to open new phase of development
VGP - General Secretary and President To Lam’s State visit to Sri Lanka carries a particularly important diplomatic message, demonstrating Viet Nam’s high regard for Sri Lanka as well as the South Asian region.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong - Photo: VNA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong made the above statement in a recent interview ahead of the top Vietnamese leader's visit to Sri Lanka from May 7 to 8 at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
According to the Deputy Minister, this is the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader to Sri Lanka since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1970.
The visit will help consolidate the traditional friendship and further strengthen the sincere bonds between the leaders and peoples of the two countries, which have been nurtured over the past decades.
In addition, Nguyen said, the visit will create new momentum and help shape a framework for bilateral cooperation in the next phase.
Sri Lanka holds an important strategic position, sitting astride key maritime routes in the Indian Ocean, and is also a promising market with a population of nearly 30 million.
Strengthening relations with Sri Lanka will help unlock the potential of this market in particular and South Asia, in general, opening up opportunities for economic cooperation, boosting Viet Nam's exports and investment, and reinforcing supply chains in sectors where both sides have strengths.
The diplomat held that the visit aims to promote cooperation in maritime affairs, maritime security, port connectivity, and foster stronger ties in culture, tourism, Buddhism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries still holds significant potential although annual bilateral trade turnover stands at just over US$200 million.
Therefore, the visit is expected to set more ambitious targets for bilateral trade and investment, with a view toward advancing several major investment projects by Vietnamese companies in Sri Lanka in the coming period.
Cultural and tourism cooperation, especially in spiritual tourism, between the two countries is developing strongly. The two sides also plan to open direct flight routes to enhance connectivity and promote tourism and trade.
The diplomat expressed his belief that the visit will become an important political milestone, creating new momentum and ushering in a new phase of development in bilateral relations./.
