Sri Lanka, Vietnam hold bilateral discussions, sign MoUs and agreements

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, accompanied by several ministers and senior officials held bilateral discussions with the visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and his delegation today at the Presidential Secretariat with a view to exploring opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations.

The discussions between the two sides focused on further promotion of relations and cooperation for mutual benefit, the government said.
Vietnam President arrived in Colombo Thursday with a high-powered delegation of around 60 businessmen and government officials including the Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister and several deputy ministers.
At the conclusion of discussions the two sides signed several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and agreements covering a range of sectors including political, defence, investment, finance, education & training and machinery manufacturing.


Following MoUs and agreements were signed at today's meeting.

1. Memorandum of understanding on Political Consultations was signed by the Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Doan Xuan Hung.
2. Memorandum of understanding on Cooperation between Ministry of Finance and Planning of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam was signed by the Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation, Dr. Sarath Amunugama and Minister of Finance of Vietnam, Prof. Dr. Vuong Dinh Hue.
3. Memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam was signed by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiyutheen and the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Le Duong Quang.
4. Agreement on Educational Cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam was signed by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Nandimithra Ekanayake and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Doan Xuan Hung.
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam on Petroleum Sector was signed by the Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga and the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of Vietnam, Le Duong Quang.
6. Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam was signed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Lt. Nguyen Chi Vinh.
7. Memorandum of Understanding on Two Way Investment Promotion Cooperation between Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Foreign Investment Agency of Vietnam was signed by Chairman/Director General, Board of Investment, M.M.C. Ferdinando and Director General Foreign Investment Agency of Vietnam, Do Nhat Hoang.
8. TERM Gasoil Sales Agreement, was signed by the Chairman, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, B.H.S. Jayewardena and the Managing Director, P.V. Oil (Singapore) Pvt.Ltd, Mrs. Hoang Tai Minh Nguyet.

(Photos by Sudath Silva)