Vietnamese President To Lam’s address in Parliament Viet Nam and SL agree to upgrade bilateral relations into a comprehensive partnership programme

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Visiting Vietnamese President To Lam who addressed Parliament yesterday announced that both his country and Sri Lanka have agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship into a comprehensive and active bilateral programme.   

“I am delighted to inform your Parliament and People that, grounded in our political trust, traditional friendship and growing needs for cooperation, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have reached an agreement to upgrade relations to a Comprehensive Partnership. This is an important milestone, opening up a new, better-rounded, more substantive and more effective cooperation space between our two countries through this new framework,” Mr. Lam told the House.   

He said it will be a multifaceted programme which includes economic, political and cultural cooperation between the two nations.   

“Both countries usher in greater shifts in economic, trade and investment cooperation. There is much room for economic cooperation between our two countries to grow. Our markets, products, geographical locations and capabilities are mutually complementary. Viet Nam may be a bridge for Sri Lanka to strengthen cooperation with the ASEAN and Southeast Asia, while Sri Lanka may provide an important link for Viet Nam to expand collaboration with South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Our two countries have agreed on a bilateral trade target of US$1 billion in bilateral trade in the near future, providing concrete incentives to this end: facilitating trade, promoting B-2-B links, exchanging trade missions, attending each other’s trade fairs and conferences, connecting supply to demand and considering the possibility of more conducive legal frameworks for investment and trade. Beyond a figure, the one-billion target stands for new confidence and space for cooperation between our two business communities. I call on our respective competent authorities to work closely together, translate existing agreements into substantive programmes, projects and outcomes for our peoples and businesses” he said focusing on economic partnership which the two countries should build up.   

“We may give priority to agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, renewables, electronic and auto parts, pharmaceuticals, hospital, telecommunication, logistics, infrastructure, tourism, services and IT. These are sectors you have expressed an interest in investment. Third, accelerate cooperation in agriculture, food security and rural development. Agriculture is near and dear to both our countries. Viet Nam stands ready to share its experience with Sri Lanka in accordance with the spirit of the 2025 Joint Statement. I trust that agricultural cooperation, beyond creating more economic value, will also help safeguard food security and livelihood for the rural people, facilitate climate,” he said.   

The Vietnamese leader said Parliaments of both countries have agreed to work closely and arrange frequent visits. He said both nations have further agreed to develop new engines for cooperation: maritime economy, logistics, digital transformation, AI and green growth.

He said that Sri Lanka occupies a strategic location in the Indian Ocean. It is an important hub for international maritime routes. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is a littoral state in Southeast Asia currently engaging a strategy of sustainable maritime economic development. We can work together in logistics, ports, transport, maritime trade, marine environment protection, disaster response, and the development of the blue ocean economy. We can also drive cooperation in digital transformation, e-commerce, AI, digital public services education, digital healthcare, renewables and green finance. Our two countries have pledged to work together in harnessing new technologies, including artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital transformation to foster sustainable development and elevate public service quality. These areas are unfettered by geographical distance. Intellect, technology, innovation and data may well become new bridges to link Viet Nam and Sri Lanka together.   

Mr. Lam said both Sri Lanka and Vietnam ties should expand in the education and cultural sector as well.