Viet Nam President arrives on historic visit

President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Truong Tan Sang arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake yesterday for a three-day official and historic visit on an invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang inspects a Sri Lankan honor guard at the airport after arriving in Colombo October 13, 2011. Sang is on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

The visiting President was received on arrival by President Rajapaksa at the airport and was accorded a ceremonial welcome including a guard of honour by the Sri Lanka Navy, followed by a 21-gun salute.

The Vietnamese President was accompanied by First Lady Mai Thi Hanh and a high-powered business delegation.

This is the first State visit by a Vietnamese President to Sri Lanka, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1970. President Rajapaksa made a state visit to Viet Nam in October 2009. During this visit, the two countries agreed to promote cooperation in economy, trade and investment to raise a two-way trade path which was at US$ 65 million to US$ 100 million by 2012.

In 2009, the two countries signed five agreements covering areas of investment, cultural cooperation, agriculture development, fisheries and combating crime.

During his stay in Sri Lanka, President Sang is expected to hold talks with President Rajapaksa and several ministers with a view to exploring opportunities for further promotion of relations and cooperation between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam for mutual benefits.

At the conclusion of discussions, several agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed on a range of sectors such as bilateral political consultation, defence, investment, finance, industry and commerce, education and training, petroleum, etc.

Today, the Vietnamese President will inaugurate the Sri Lanka-Viet Nam Business Forum jointly organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of Viet Nam in Colombo.

President Rajapaksa will host his Vietnamese counterpart to a State banquet.

On the last day of his tour, 15 October, President Sang will open the Viet Nam Embassy in Colombo with the participation of Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne as the Chief Guest. The Vietnamese President is also scheduled to visit the Gems & Jewellery Authority prior to his departure from Sri Lanka.

“This visit will mark an important milestone in Sri Lanka-Viet Nam relations and would pave the way for greater economic cooperation between the two countries,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.