Vietnam and Sri Lanka look to expand cooperation

Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang has emphasized that there was potential for cooperation to be explored in new areas with Sri Lanka.

He had said this at a meeting with?Ms. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake when she presented her Credentials as the new Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

Ambassador Dissanayake was received at the Presidential Palace by a Guard of Honour. Following the presentation of Credentials, the Ambassador briefed President Sang on the recently concluded general elections, Sri Lanka?s Foreign Policy and current status of bilateral relations and recalled two State Visits that took place in the recent past between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry said.

During the discussions, it was noted that the two countries had entered into over 25 Agreements/Memoranda of Understandings in various fields such as defence, public security, trade and investment, agriculture, fisheries and banking and finance and ?Ambassador Dissanayake expressed her firm intention to elevate bilateral relations by working towards the implementation of the Agreements/ Memoranda of Understandings between the two countries.

While appreciating the Ambassador?s comments, President Sang recalled the support extended by the Government and People of Sri Lanka during the struggle for Vietnamese independence. President Sang also expressed appreciation at the increase in bilateral exchanges at all levels during the past few years. The President emphasized that there was potential for cooperation to be explored in new areas as well, and expressed his confidence in the new Ambassador in achieving the same.

Ambassador Dissanayake is a career diplomat with over 19 years of service, having served in Sri Lanka Embassies in Tokyo, Stockholm, and Rome and as the Consul General for Sri Lanka in Shanghai. (Colombo Gazette)