Within the framework of the State visit to Sri Lanka, at noon on May 8 (local time), General Secretary and President To Lam delivered a speech at the Sri Lankan Parliament.
General Secretary and President To Lam respectfully thanked the National Assembly, Government and people of Sri Lanka for giving the high-level Vietnamese delegation a solemn, warm and friendly reception.
Happily informing the National Assembly and people of Sri Lanka, General Secretary and President To Lam said that on the basis of political trust, traditional friendship and increasingly deep cooperation needs, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have agreed to upgrade the relations between the two countries to a Comprehensive Partnership. This is an important milestone, opening up a new, more comprehensive, more substantive and more effective cooperation space between the two countries.
Proposing a number of major cooperation directions, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized strengthening political trust and parliamentary cooperation. The two countries need to continue to maintain high-level delegation exchanges at all levels; strengthen cooperation between the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and local agencies of the two countries; promote the role of consultation and dialogue mechanisms, mixed committees and bilateral cooperation channels. Vietnam wishes the two National Assemblies to promote the activities of friendship parliamentary groups, acting as a bridge for the relationship between the two countries to become closer and more substantive.
The two countries need to create stronger changes in economic, trade and investment cooperation. Vietnam can be a bridge for Sri Lanka to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and Southeast Asia; Sri Lanka can be an important bridge for Vietnam to expand cooperation with South Asia and the Indian Ocean region; encourage practical measures such as trade facilitation, increased business connections, delegation exchanges, exhibitions, seminars, supply-demand connections and consider more favorable legal frameworks for investment and trade.
The relevant agencies of the two countries closely coordinated, concretizing the agreements reached into programs, projects and practical results for the people and businesses of the two countries.
General Secretary and President To Lam clearly stated that it is necessary to promote cooperation in the fields of agriculture, food security and rural development; develop new cooperation drivers including marine economy, logistics, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and green growth; strengthen education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges; closely coordinate at regional and international forums.
General Secretary and President To Lam believes that, with the foundation of more than half a century of diplomatic relations, with historical and cultural similarities and aspirations for development, with the determination of leaders and the support of the people of the two countries, Vietnam - Sri Lanka relations will enter a new stage of development, deeper, more substantive and more effective.
General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that from Hanoi to Colombo, from the East Sea to the Indian Ocean, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have a common belief: Peace is the foundation, people are the center, development is the goal and friendship is the most sustainable bridge connecting the two nations.
