• Nations target $ 1 b bilateral trade by 2030
• Vietnam donates 100 MT of urea, superphosphate
• Leaders discuss direct flights, renewable energy, AI, maritime affairs, defence collaboration 

Sri Lanka and Vietnam on Friday (8) agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, with the two countries pledging to expand cooperation across trade, investment, defence, renewable energy, technology, agriculture, maritime affairs, and aviation connectivity.

The agreement was announced following bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Vietnamese President Tô Lâm during the latter’s State visit to Sri Lanka.

As part of the visit, Sri Lanka and Vietnam signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering police training, scientific research, cultural exchanges, and cooperation in information and communications. The agreements were signed at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of the two leaders, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Vietnam also donated 100 MT of urea and superphosphate fertiliser to Sri Lanka in response to a request for fertiliser assistance.

Economic cooperation emerged as a major focus of the bilateral discussions, with both countries agreeing to increase bilateral trade to $ 1 billion by 2030.

Addressing a joint media briefing after discussions at the Presidential Secretariat, Dissanayake described the visit as a historic milestone in relations between the two countries, with this year marking 55 years of diplomatic ties.

“Reflecting the maturity, strength and future potential of our bilateral engagement, Sri Lanka and Vietnam agreed to elevate the existing diplomatic relationship into a broader and more comprehensive partnership,” Dissanayake said.

President Lâm said that both countries recognised the present moment as a timely opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and formally upgrade relations.

“In this spirit, President Dissanayake and I agreed to upgrade Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations to a Comprehensive Partnership,” he said.

Dissanayake said Sri Lanka had invited Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in renewable energy, logistics, infrastructure, tourism, and manufacturing, highlighting Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean.

The Vietnamese President meanwhile stated that both countries had agreed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, science, and technology, while also working towards a future bilateral agreement on trade and investment.

“Vietnamese entrepreneurs are prepared to expand their investments in Sri Lanka, with the aim of contributing to the country’s socioeconomic development while creating strategic and symbolic projects that further strengthen ties between our two nations,” he said.

The two leaders also discussed expanding aviation links, with Sri Lanka welcoming decisions by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air to commence direct flights between Colombo and the Vietnamese cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi later this year.

Dissanayake said the new routes were expected to strengthen tourism, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Cooperation in renewable energy and digital transformation also featured prominently during discussions.

Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka and Vietnam had explored collaboration in solar and wind energy, electric mobility, and electric vehicle manufacturing. The two countries additionally discussed cooperation in information technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital public infrastructure as Sri Lanka advances efforts to build a digital economy.

Agriculture was identified as another key area of partnership, with both sides agreeing to strengthen cooperation on technology transfer, capacity building, agricultural modernisation, and post-harvest management.

Defence and security cooperation also formed part of the bilateral discussions.

Dissanayake said the two countries had agreed to enhance cooperation in training, knowledge exchange, and participation in United Nations Peacekeeping operations, while reaffirming a shared commitment to regional peace and stability.

President Lâm said that both sides had agreed to reinforce political, defence, and security cooperation “based on mutual trust, understanding, and respect,” while promoting high-level exchanges and maintaining bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

The Vietnamese President also stressed the importance of freedom and security of maritime navigation in accordance with international law.

Dissanayake described Vietnam as a symbol of unwavering resistance against imperialism and a living example of remarkable economic transformation, commending the country’s rapid emergence as a major manufacturing and economic hub in Southeast Asia.