Economic collaboration should be strengthened to elevate Vietnam–Sri Lanka ties
Over the past 55 years, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have built a solid relationship grounded in mutual respect and collaboration. Their ties originated during the struggle for independence and solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement. Over time, the relationship has evolved from ideological support into practical cooperation across trade, education, and cultural exchange.
Chairman of the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Solidarity Association Sudasinghe Sugathapala (Photo courtesy of Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka)
Hanoi (VNA) – C﷽hairman of the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Solidarity Association (SVSA) Sudasinghe Sugathapala has suggested that Vietnam and Sri Lanka prioritise economic cooperation beyond traditional trade in goods to elevate bilateral ties.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency's correspondents in South Asia on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sri Lanka (July 21, 1970 – 2025), Sudasinghe stressed the importance of expanding people-to-people exchanges through education and tourism. He further stated that the launch of direct flights between the two countries would significantly bolster bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism.
According to Sudasinghe, over the past 55 years, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have built a solid relationship grounded in mutual respect and collaboration. Their ties, he noted, originated during the struggle for independence and solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement—laying a strong foundation for political trust. Over time, the relationship has evolved from ideological support into practical cooperation across trade, education, and cultural exchange.
Key milestones include three visits to Sri Lanka by President Ho Chi Minh in 1911, 1928, and 1946; the opening of diplomatic missions in Colombo in 1971 and Hanoi in 2003; and high-level exchanges between the two countries, including President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Sri Lanka and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Vietnam in 2011; Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2013; Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Vietnam in 2017; and, most recently, the official visit by President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to Vietnam in May 2025.
He also highlighted the expansion of bilateral trade and the two nations’ close cooperation at international forums such as the United Nations as further examples of deepening partnership. This steady progress, he said, underscores the commitment of both countries to leveraging historical ties for shared development goals.
Looking ahead, Sudasinghe expressed optimism that Vietnam–Sri Lanka relations will deepen over the next decade in response to regional fluctuations such as strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region and global economic restructuring. He said both countries have complementary strengths: Vietnam’s robust manufacturing and export capacity, and Sri Lanka’s strategic location as a maritime hub.
Current opportunities lie in expanding trade, investing in infrastructure, and enhancing cooperation on climate change, particularly as both nations face growing environmental challenges.
The challenges include navigating pressure from larger regional powers and addressing internal development disparities. How the two countries manage these issues will shape a resilient, forward-looking partnership adaptable to a dynamic geopolitical landscape.
Sudasinghe also underscored the importance of coordinated diplomacy at international forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN-related platforms, which can amplify the voices of both countries on global issues including peace, sustainable development, and environmental protection.
It is necessary for both sides to foster open dialogue to anticipate challenges and align their priorities to build a proactive partnership rather than a passive one, he added./.
The three-day event, which began July 22, serves as a meaningful cultural activity to deepen the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties (July 21, 1970–2025).
As the two countries share many similarities in history, geography, and culture, they have had longstanding connections even before establishing consular relations in 1964, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam told the Vietnam News Agency.
PM Amarasuriya stressed the need for concrete exchanges to facilitate economic cooperation, such as streamlining visa procedures, promoting tourism, culture, education and student exchanges.
The agreement outlines a framework for enhanced parliamentary collaboration, focusing on the exchange of high-level delegations and contacts, the sharing of parliamentary experiences, mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums, the building and rollout of cooperation initiatives.
Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man and Senegalese NA President Malick Ndiaye held talks in Dakar, capital of Senegal, on July 23.
An official welcome ceremony was held in Dakar on the morning of July 23 for visiting Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the high-level Vietnamese delegation by President of the Senegalese National Assembly El Malick Ndiaye.
The two sides agreed to closely coordinate in the implementation of measures for further strengthening bilateral ties, including promoting all-level mutual visits, realising high-level agreements, and enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between the countries.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has affirmed Vietnam's readiness to facilitate the early establishment of Turkey’s defence attaché office in Vietnam, during his meeting with Turkish Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler.
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang called for deepening cooperation in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner, beyond traditional areas like politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, national defence, and security to include emerging areas such as sci-tech, green transition, digital transformation, labour, vocational training, and sustainable fisheries.
The Party leader requested the General Department of Politics to direct the entire military to intensify solutions for building a politically strong army that remains closely connected to the people.
The diplomat noted that since Vietnam became an ASEAN member on July 28 1995, Vietnam has affirmed its role as a dynamic, responsible, and increasingly influential member of the group, deeply integrated into regional processes and pivotal in building a united, resilient, and sustainably developed ASEAN Community.
Viet underlined the key role of science, technology, and innovation in achieving the SDGs, while calling for ensuring equitable access for developing countries to advanced technologies, knowledge, and digital infrastructure through technology transfer, capacity building, and innovation cooperation.
Strategically located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, Senegal serves as a key gateway to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - a region rich in natural resources, demographically young, and economically promising. Morocco, located on both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of North Africa, is the African country closest to Europe, with numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) with the EU, the US, and African Union.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh man's offiical visit demonstrates Vietnam's consistent foreign policy and priority of strengthening and expanding cooperation with African countries, including Morocco. The visit is expected to mark a milestone with fresh cooperation prospects, initiating a period of deeper and broader development in the relations with Morocco, and with the entire African continent at large.
Vietnam has established itself as one of the region’s leading market economies, Kavi said, noting that if the country maintains its current growth momentum, it will not only continue to rise strongly but also play an increasingly important role in shaping ASEAN’s future.
The Government is scheduled to review and discuss the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Judicial Records; the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Drug Prevention and Control; the draft Law on Civil Aviation of Vietnam (replacement); the draft Law on E-Commerce; the draft Law on Higher Education (replacement); the draft Law on Vocational Education (replacement); the draft Law on Press (replacement); and the Government's proposal on the 2026 legislative programme.
In the first six months of 2025, overseas Vietnamese missions carried out nearly 300 economic diplomacy events, including trade, investment, and tourism promotion activities. They supported localities in organising over 150 promotion activities both at home and abroad, and helped facilitate 30 agreements between Vietnamese localities and international partners.
