Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always treasures and wants to further develop itstraditional friendship with Sri Lanka, Deputy Prime Minister cum ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh said on August 27.
Ata meeting with Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, who came to Vietnam toco-chair the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), Minh thanked Sri Lanka forsupporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United NationsSecurity Council for the 2020-2021 term.
Heproposed Sri Lanka express a more active voice in the East Sea issue by backingthe stance of Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),especially in the principled matters such as freedom of navigation and aviation,respect for international law and settlement of disputes through peacefulmeasures.
Wickremesinghecommended Vietnam’s great achievements in socio-economic development in recentyears and affirmed that Sri Lanka would continue closely coordinating withVietnam in regional and international forums, particularly the United Nationsand the Non-Aligned Movement.
Bothleaders held that the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation havebeen developing fruitfully in recent years. They agreed to increase theexchange of visits at all levels and through Party, State, Government andNational Assembly channels.
Minhand Wickremesinghe said economic and trade ties between the two nations haveseen progress but failed to catch up with their huge potential. They consentedto soon organise the second meeting of the joint trade subcommittee in Vietnamto set out specific measures in an effort to lift bilateral trade to 1 billionUSD in 2020.
Thetwo sides agreed to hold the fourth meeting of the Vietnam-Sri Lanka jointcommittee in 2019 and early sign a memorandum of understanding on fisherycooperation over the next three years.
Theyalso concurred that Vietnam and Sri Lanka need to give priority and expandcooperation in other potential fields such as education-training,telecommunications, information and digital technology, oil and gas, aviation,maritime transportation, agricultural and aquatic product processing anddistribution, cultural and youth exchanges, arts, Buddhism and sports.-VNA
VNA
