VN, Sri Lanka strive for US$1 bln in bilateral trade

National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan holds talks with Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, April 24, 2018 - Photo: VNA

The statement was made during the talks between the NA Chairwoman and Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya on April 24 on the occasion of the Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament’s official visit to Viet Nam from April 23-27. 

The Vietnamese leader hoped that Mr. Karu Jayasuriya’s official visit to Viet Nam will deepen the friendship relations and traditional cooperation between the two nations and the two legislative bodies. 

Ms. Ngan hailed Sri Lanka’s achievements in socio-economic development and the nation’s contributions to peace, stability and development in the region. 

Viet Nam attaches importance to the traditional relationship with Sri Lanka, asserted the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman, adding that the Vietnamese NA is willing to enhance close cooperation with the Sri Lankan Parliament. 

Both sides consented to actively and fully launch the Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation (2011) and accelerate cooperation in logistics, overcoming consequences of war and participating the United Nations peacekeeping activities. 

The two sides should launch a security dialogue at ministerial level every two years, enhance information and experience exchanges, improve the capacity on prevention of  trans-national crimes and terrorism.    

Regarding economic cooperation, the two leaders agreed to promote cooperation in potential areas including petrol, infrastructure, information technology, garments, rubber, footwear, agricultural and aquatic processing, renewable energy and transport. 

Ms. Ngan urged to strengthen investment promotion and trade connection activities and propose measures to launch the bilateral investment protection and encouragement deal.  

The host and the guest agreed to boost aviation connections, regarding it as key and effective measure to facilitate trade and exploit tourism potential between the two sides. 

The two leaders discussed international and regional issues of mutual concerns, including the East Sea issue. 

Mr. Ngan highlighted that the maintenance of aeronautical and maritime peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea is the mutual benefits of nations  in the region and beyond. 

Viet Nam’s guidelines are to address disputes in the East Sea with peaceful measures in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, fully respecting diplomatic and legal processes and legitimate rights and interests of all relevant sides and making efforts to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea. 

Ms. Ngan expressed her hope that Sri Lanka will advocate Viet Nam's and ASEAN’s standpoints, especially contents related to freedom of navigation and aviation. 

In the upcoming time, the two leaders agreed that the two nations’ legislative bodies need to strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels, uphold the role of the two nations’ delegates in accelerating the two nations’ parliaments in particular and the two nations in general. 

They assented to enhanced supervisory roles and the effective implementation of the inked agreements and deals as well as support each other at international and regional forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). 

By Thuy Dung