Vietnam and Sri Lanka plan for future, grounded in 55 years of diplomatic relationships.
Freshened Perspective:
Sri Lanka and Vietnam aim to fortify their bonds, rooted in strong friendship, high political trust, and shared values, as declared by Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation.
Visiting Sri Lanka from June 1-4 for the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Nghĩa expressed Vietnam's appreciation for Sri Lanka's vital role and standing in the region. He proposed joint initiatives to actualize high-level agreements, focusing on boosting political ties, economy, investment, trade, national defense-security, tourism, culture, education-training, and people-to-people exchanges.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya underlined the need for concrete steps to bolster economic cooperation, such as simplifying visa procedures and promoting tourism, culture, education, and student exchanges. She expressed interest in learning from Vietnam's experience in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Agreements on key priorities for future collaboration were reached, including deepening relations between ruling parties and exploring a direct air route to intensify tourism, cultural, and people-to-people interactions.
Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa (left) and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya at their meeting in Colombo on June 2.
During his meetings with General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tilvin Silva and leaders of the Sri Lanka Communist Party and the Sri Lanka-Việt Nam Solidarity Association, Nghĩa called for stronger party-to-party ties through delegation exchanges, theoretical discussions, and sharing expertise in various fields.
Motivated by Vietnam's high and stable economic growth, the Sri Lankan leaders expressed a wish to learn from Vietnam's experience in economic development, education, agricultural, and scientific advancements. They sought substantive cooperation with the Communist Party of Vietnam, emphasizing information exchange, party-building, leadership training, and mass mobilization.
At an international seminar on President Họ̣ Chí Minh and the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, scholars from both countries highlighted President Họ̣ Chí Minh's impact on national liberation movements and his ideology of international solidarity. They praised his contributions and expressed deep respect for his legacy.
Nghĩa emphasized the ongoing resilience of Vietnam-Sri Lanka relationships, underpinned by political trust, cultural affinities, and shared development interests, which serve as valuable foundations for future collaboration. He also commended the sincere and insightful presentations during the seminar and underlined President Họ̣ Chí Minh's diplomatic legacy.
Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa (left) and General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tilvin Silva.
During a meeting with Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Nghĩa acknowledged recent advancements in cultural and religious exchanges and thanked the Sri Lankan government for supporting the construction of a Vietnamese pagoda in the country.
Plans to boost delegation exchanges, cultural and artistic programs, spiritual tourism, and efforts to preserve religious and cultural sites were discussed. They also considered encouraging the education of traditions among youth through information sharing and bilateral exchanges and increasing the dissemination of each country's cultural, literary, and cinematic works.
On this occasion, Nghĩa interacted with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka. His delegation also paid tribute to President Họ̣ Chí Minh's statue and visited the Họ̣ Chí Minh space at Colombo Public Library. - VNA/VNS
Notes:- streamlining visa procedures: simplifying or making the process of obtaining a visa more efficient and accessible- fostering mutual understanding: improving awareness, perceptions, and relationships between people or groups- strategic sectors: industries or areas of the economy that are crucial for achieving specific goals or forming broad-based economic growth- renewable energy projects: large-scale initiatives aimed at harnessing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power- sustainable development: economic growth that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs- hospitals and pharmaceuticals: medical facilities providing patient care, and laboratories, manufacturing units, and distribution channels for medications- direct air route: a non-stop flight connecting two cities or countries, allowing for quicker and more convenient travel- cultural events and exchanges: performances, exhibitions, and other activities showcasing a country or community's arts, customs, and traditions- bilateral exchanges: interactions between governments, organizations, or individuals from two different countries or regions- information sharing: the act of exchanging data, knowledge, or resources between individuals, organizations, or countries- (1) [New Straits Times] (2) [Vietnam News Agency] (3) [Vietnam News] (4) [Sri Lanka Mirror] (5) [Channel News Asia]
- The government leaders of Sri Lanka and Vietnam discussed the importance of strengthening ties in multiple strategic sectors, such as economy, investment, trade, national defense-security, and education-training.
- To foster mutual understanding and promote tourism, the ruling parties of Sri Lanka and Vietnam agreed on exploring a direct air route, deepening relations, and intensifying cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
- The Vietnamese Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, expressed Vietnam's appreciation for Sri Lanka's role in their region and proposed joint initiatives focusing on various areas, including science, AI, and technology.
- During the meetings, Sri Lankan leaders expressed interest in learning from Vietnam's experience in economic development, education, agricultural, and scientific advancements, as well as attracting foreign direct investment.
- Scholars from both countries emphasized President Họć Chí Minh's impact on national liberation movements and his ideology of international solidarity during an international seminar on Học Chí Minh and the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
- The Vietnamese government acknowledged recent advancements in cultural and religious exchanges and appreciated the Sri Lankan government's support for the construction of a Vietnamese pagoda in the country.
- In efforts to enhance cultural dialogue, plans were discussed to boost delegation exchanges, cultural and artistic programs, spiritual tourism, and the preservation of religious and cultural sites, as well as encouraging the education of traditions among youth through information sharing and bilateral exchanges.
