Sri Lankan ambassador to Vietnam discusses key issues with Vietnamese Minister of Public Security

Ambassador Prof A. Saj U. Mendis called on Minister To Lam, Minister of Public Security of Vietnam at the Ministry of Public Security in Ha Noi. The Ministry of Public Security in Vietnam is considered one of the most pivotal ministries and Minister To Lam is one of the senior most political leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The meeting lasted over 60 minutes and was highly comprehensive and expansive, both in nature and in substance.

Ambassador Mendis commended the economic advancement and augmentation of Vietnam during the past decades and added that it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Further, Mendis stated that Vietnam would become a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, according to political economists, and is one of the three countries having a bilateral trade larger than the GDP of the country. Mendis expressed gratitude, on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka, for the cooperation and facilitation extended to the stranded Sri Lankan migrants in November last year as well as the support extended to Sri Lanka at the Human Right Council (HRC), since Vietnam is a member of the HRC.

Minister To Lam expressed to have more cooperation between his ministry and counterpart ministry and institutions in Sri Lanka to further strengthen and elevate security, law enforcement and prevention and combating of transnational crimes, among others, thus contributing to make the Indo-Pacific region more stable and peaceful. Minister To Lam added that the two countries must proactively continue to coordinate, consult and support each other at various multilateral forums and international organizations, which efforts are much appreciated and beneficial to both countries. Minister To Lam expressed the gratitude of the peoples and the government of Vietnam for the support and consideration extended to Vietnam over the past decades by successive governments of Sri Lanka.

Both the minister and envoy discussed efficacious courses of action to augment and to deepen economic and commercial relations between the two countries with particular focus on tourism, trade, investments and people-to-people exchange, among others. The Minister and Envoy agreed to work in close coordination and cooperation in a myriad of other outstanding issues. Ambassador Mendis was accompanied by the Minister Counsellor of the embassy, Mahesh Premathilake.

(Sri Lankan embassy in Vietnam)