Sri Lanka is a traditional friend with long-standing friendly relations with Vietnam, and it is also the country where President Ho Chi Minh stopped three times during his journey to seek the path for national salvation.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970, the two countries have cultivated a strong friendship based on mutual trust and respect. The leadership and people of Sri Lanka have always held warm sentiments toward Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, admiring Vietnam’s indomitable spirit in its resistance wars against foreign invaders as well as in the national construction and development, and expressing a desire to learn from Vietnam’s development experience. Sri Lanka has also recognized Vietnam’s full-fledged market economy status.
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Party General Secretary To Lam (now Party General Secretary and State President To Lam) and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Party Central Committee headquarters on May 4, 2025 (Photo: vietnam.vn) |
In response, Vietnam always remembers and deeply values Sri Lanka’s support and assistance in its struggle for national independence. The Party and State of Vietnam attach much importance to Sri Lanka’s role and position in the region, wishing to further deepen bilateral ties based on traditional friendship, high political trust, and shared values and interests.
Over the past half-century, the Vietnam - Sri Lanka relationship has recorded significant achievements. Both sides have actively maintained delegation exchanges at all levels across the channels of the Party, State, National Assembly, people-to-people exchanges, and multilateral forums. The two countries have established three key bilateral cooperation mechanisms: the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; Political Consultations; and the Joint Sub-Committee on Trade.
Along with sound political ties, cooperation across defense, economy, trade, investment, finance, education, and culture has seen encouraging progress. Bilateral trade revenue remains stable amidst global economic fluctuations, averaging around USD 200 million per year. Sri Lanka currently has 34 valid projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of USD 43 million, ranking 64th out of 154 countries and territories worldwide investing in the country.
To enhance trade and investment, the two countries have signed several vital agreements, including the Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, and the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments. These frameworks lay a solid foundation for trade, boosting investor confidence and promoting long-term economic partnership.
Furthermore, defense and security cooperation has been emphasized. Vietnam and Sri Lanka signed a bilateral defense cooperation memorandum of understanding in October 2011, followed by an extradition treaty and an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons in 2014.
Internationally, the two sides collaborate closely at regional and global forums. Sri Lanka supported Vietnam’s candidacy for the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure, while Vietnam backed Sri Lanka for the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2025-2027 term.
Mutual respect and trust were clearly demonstrated when Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake selected Vietnam as one of his first destinations after taking office in May 2025. Similarly, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s choice of Sri Lanka as an early destination following his inauguration in April 2026 highlights the importance of the bilateral relationship.
This marks the first-ever visit by a Party General Secretary and State President of Vietnam to Sri Lanka. The event reaffirms Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization, and diversification of foreign relations. It also reflects Vietnam’s strong desire to consolidate and further develop traditional friendly ties with Sri Lanka, serving the interests of both peoples and practically contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit is highly expected to be a great success, serving as a new historical milestone and creating momentum to drive bilateral relations to a new height.
Translated by Minh Anh