State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake visits Vietnam

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake ended his five day visit to Hanoi on 2 August on his way to Manila, the Philippines to attend the 24th Asia Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial meeting.

On the day of the arrival he joined a business networking reception for over thirty five which was hosted by the Ambassador at his Official Residence, attended by high ranking Vietnamese government officials connected to foreign affairs, trade and investment, leading Vietnamese and expat business community and professionals as well as some of the Sri Lankan CEOs and professionals in Vietnam.

The State Minister was further hosted for a special lunch by the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province. It was also attended by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Sanh Chau and Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Hanoi. 

On 31 July, the Embassy arranged a visit to Dinh Vu Industrial Zone Joint Stock Company (Deep C) in Haiphong Province. The Deep C Industrial Zones project was initiated in 1994 by a consortium of international investors and Haiphong Provincial Authorities. Today, major shareholders of the Deep C are Rent-A-Port Co. Ltd., InfraAsia Investment Ltd. and Haiphong People’s Committee. Rent-A-Port Co. Ltd. is a company specialises in industrial zone and marine infrastructure development based in Belgium. It has well experiences and contributed analysis, design, construction, development and management of port, logistic and marine infrastructure, renewable energy, waste water treatment, industrial waste management as well as industrial zones worldwide. State Minister invited Rent-A-Port to visit Sri Lanka to study similar opportunities in the port sector. 

The State Minister Senanayake also visited Linea Aqua Viet Nam Co. Ltd. in Pho Noi B Textile Garment Industrial Park Hung Yen Province, a fully owned subsidiary of Linea Aqua Ltd. Sri Lanka and Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing Co. Ltd. in the same Industrial Park. The company is a 100% foreign investment by Carvico Group of Italy having producing high quality warp knitted fabric for swimwear and sportswear. State Minister invited them to invest in Sri Lanka, highlighting on incentives and benefits from the FTAs Sri Lanka has with India, etc. 

On 1 August, the State Minister visited the Sri Lanka Embassy in Hanoi and then was interviewed by the Nhan Dan TV channel of Viet Nam. 

It was followed by the bilateral meeting between the State Minister Senanayake and Vice Minister Dang Dinh Quy, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, which was held over lunch at the Government Guest House in Hanoi. Further improving bilateral relations especially in tourism, trade and investment was discussed. Further, both agreed that centuries old Buddhist connection is indeed a strong base and also contributes for increased Buddhist tourism. Possibilities for direct air links, starting with a charter flight were discussed. Possibility of exchanges of another high level visit was also mentioned by Vice Minister Dang Dinh. 

A lunch was hosted by Dang DinhQuy and during the lunch it was also discussed the way of enhancing the relationship between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

In the Afternoon, State Minister visited Quan Su Pagoda or better known as Ambassador Pagoda in Hanoi which is the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and had discussions with Most Ven. Dr. Thich Duc Thien, Secretary General of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on furthering Buddhist relations. Most Ven. Dr. Thein is also the vice president of the Vietnam – Sri Lanka Friendship Association.