(VOVworld) –Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated the determination to elevate the two countries’ relations to a new height during their talks in Hanoi on Monday.
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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe review the Honor Guard in Hanoi on April 17, 2017
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Prime Minister Phuc said Vietnam always treasures its traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Sri Lanka. The two Prime Ministers pledged to step up collaboration in security-defense, sharing information and experience in legal execution, combating cross-border crime, addressing post-war consequences, and joining UN peacekeeping activities.
The PMs also underlined the enormous bilateral cooperation potential in trade, economics, and investment. They agreed to facilitate their airliners to open direct flights between the two countries. The leaders vowed to closely work together at regional and international forums, while strengthening cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Both sides stressed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea as well as navigation and aviation safety, and removing trade barriers and settling disputes and differences via peaceful means and in line with international law.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told reporters after the talks: “Vietnam and Sri Lanka will strengthen cooperation in national defense, security, combating crimes, training and agriculture. We agreed to increase bilateral trade to 1 billion USD and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese and Sri Lankan investors. We will continue to implement agreements on investment encouragement and protection, especially in energy, science, technology, aviation, tourism, education, training, telecommunications, and dairy production.”
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his visit paved the way for expanding bilateral cooperation in economics, culture, people-to-people exchanges, training, and education.
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister paid a courtesy visit to Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, and met President Tran Dai Quang and NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.