Sri Lanka and Viet Nam Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Partnership
Sri Lanka and Viet Nam have upgraded their diplomatic ties to a Comprehensive Partnership. The announcement came during President Tô Lâm’s two-day state visit to Colombo on 7–8 May 2026. Both nations also pledged to deepen cooperation across trade, defence, and cultural exchanges. President Tô Lâm arrived in Colombo on 8 May, where he received a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Secretariat. The event included a 21-gun salute in his honour. Later, he joined President Disanayaka for a joint press briefing and paid respects at the Hồ Chí Minh statue at the Colombo Public Library.
During their talks, the leaders agreed to boost political, defence, and security ties. Plans include more high-level visits, stronger legislative cooperation, and expanded people-to-people exchanges. They also committed to increasing bilateral trade to one billion USD by 2030.
Both sides will accelerate collaboration in science, technology, and digital transformation. New agreements on digital cooperation are expected soon, alongside support for IT products and services. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries were highlighted as key areas for knowledge-sharing and joint projects.
Cultural and religious links will also grow. The two countries will expand heritage protection efforts, cultural exchange programmes, and partnerships between Buddhist organisations. The visit concluded with a Joint Statement formalising the Comprehensive Partnership. Both presidents reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening friendly ties across multiple sectors. The agreements set clear targets for trade, technology, and cultural cooperation in the coming years.
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