VN, Sri Lanka to raise bilateral trade to US$1 bln by 2020

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh receives Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ha Noi, August 27, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

The meeting was held on the occasion of Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Viet Nam to co-chair the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC).

The two sides agreed to hold the fourth meeting of the Viet Nam-Sri Lanka joint committee in 2019 and early sign a memorandum of understanding on fishery cooperation over the next three years.

They were also unanimous in giving priority and expanding cooperation in other potential fields such as education-training, telecommunications, information and digital technology, oil and gas, aviation, maritime transportation, agricultural and aquatic product processing and distribution, cultural and youth exchanges, arts, Buddhism and sports.

Mr. Wickremesinghe affirmed that Sri Lanka would continue closely coordinating with Viet Nam in regional and international forums, particularly the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Deputy PM Minh asserted that Viet Nam attaches importance to and expects to develop the traditional relationship with Sri Lanka, expressing thanks to Sri Lanka for supporting Viet Nam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

He proposed Sri Lanka express a more active voice in the East Sea issue by backing the stance of Viet Nam and ASEAN, especially in the principled matters such as freedom of navigation and aviation, respect for international law and settlement of disputes through peaceful measures.

By Thuy Dung