VIET NAM'S SUCCESS: CONSISTENT POLICIES, INVESTMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCES, GLOBAL INTEGRATION ARE HALLMARKS - AMBASSADOR

SAYS THEY ARE LESSONS THAT MAY OFFER VALUABLE GUIDANCE FOR SRI LANKA AS IT NAVIGATES ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY

- By Kelum Bandara

Vietnamese Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the way forward for enhancement of bilateral ties. She shares her views in this regard on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of Viet Nam's Independence Day (1945-2025) and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka (1970-2025).

The state visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Viet Nam in May 2025 was a landmark event, marking the first state visit to Viet Nam by a Sri Lankan President since 2009.

It coincided with the 55th anniversary of Viet Nam-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations, opening a new chapter for partnership and cooperation across multiple sectors.

During the visit, a Joint Statement was released, highlighting key commitments to uplift bilateral relations to the next level. Moreover, five key agreements were signed in trade, agriculture, education, machinery, and customs.

Since then, Ministries and agencies of the two countries have been in active performance to translate these commitments and agreements into concrete outcomes. The Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the Joint Sub-Committee on Trade have been reactivated to review pending issues, particularly in trade, aiming to facilitate smoother bilateral trade. Most recently, ROX Group from Viet Nam made a study visit in Sri Lanka for possible solar energy investment, and was received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Business delegations are preparing reciprocal visits this year, focusing on textiles, garments, tea trade, and processed food products, enabling direct partnerships between enterprises.