President Luong Cuong presides over official welcoming ceremony for Sri Lankan President

President Luong Cuong welcomes Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

On the morning of May 5, at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong chaired the welcoming ceremony for President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka on a state visit to Vietnam.

Attending the welcoming ceremony were: Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh; Head of the Office of the President Le Khanh Hai; Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung; Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang; Deputy Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong; Deputy Chief of the Office of the Party Central Committee Le Khanh Toan; Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Van Tuyen; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy; Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung; Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam; Assistant to the President Duong Quoc Hung.

Hanoi children welcome Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka on a state visit to Vietnam. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

Many children from the capital were present at the Presidential Palace waving the flags of the two countries to welcome President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and the Sri Lankan high-ranking delegation.

This is Mr. Dissanayake's first visit to Vietnam as President (from November 2024), taking place at a significant time when the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025 (July 21, 1970 - July 21, 2025). The visit contributes to strengthening political trust, promoting cooperation in all aspects to become more substantive and effective.

The motorcade escorting President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka entered the Presidential Palace. President Luong Cuong was present on the red carpet to warmly welcome President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, who led the Sri Lankan high-ranking delegation on a state visit to Vietnam. Representatives of the capital's children came forward to present President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka with a bouquet of fresh flowers.

President Luong Cuong and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka on the podium, listening to the military band playing the national anthems of the two countries. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

The official welcoming ceremony for Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

To the sound of welcoming music, President Luong Cuong and the President of Sri Lanka walked along the red carpet and up to the podium. After listening to the national anthems of the two countries, President Luong Cuong and President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka left the podium, bowed to the military flag and inspected the Guard of Honor of the Vietnam People's Army. Next, the two leaders introduced the members of the high-ranking delegations of the two countries attending the welcoming ceremony.

President Luong Cuong and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka review the Guard of Honour of the Vietnam People's Army. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

Vietnam and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on July 21, 1970. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the relationship between the two countries has always developed positively. Sri Lanka is a traditional friend, always sympathetic and attaches importance to the relationship with Vietnam. The current Sri Lankan government considers Vietnam a model of economic development and successful international integration to learn from.

The strong relationship between the two countries is marked by high-level visits and contacts between the leaders of the two countries. Sri Lanka established the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Association in March 2025, marking a new milestone in the relationship between the two countries in general and between the two parliaments in particular. The two countries continue to coordinate well at international and regional forums.

President Luong Cuong introduces members of the Vietnamese delegation to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

Regarding economic and trade relations, Sri Lanka has recognized Vietnam as a full market economy. Annual bilateral trade turnover reaches about 200 million USD, mainly Vietnamese goods exported to Sri Lanka. The two countries aim to soon bring two-way trade turnover to 1 billion USD.

With 55 years of diplomatic relations, high political trust and outstanding socio-economic achievements of each country, these are favorable conditions for Vietnam and Sri Lanka to continue to strengthen the traditional good friendship and cooperation in all fields. On that basis, the leaders of the two countries in recent meetings have said that now is a favorable time to add new momentum to bring bilateral relations to new heights.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka introduces members of the Sri Lankan delegation to President Luong Cuong. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

The State visit to Vietnam and the participation in the United Nations Day of Vesak by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka this time will contribute to strengthening political trust, promoting bilateral cooperation in all aspects to become more substantive and effective. The visit demonstrates the special importance that the leaders and people of Sri Lanka have for the traditional friendship with Vietnam; affirming the common determination of the two countries in continuing to consolidate and further develop cooperation in traditional fields such as politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange. At the same time, promoting cooperation in new and potential fields such as digital transformation, digital economy, energy transformation, artificial intelligence, connectivity, etc.

President Luong Cuong and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka pose for a photo. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

After the welcoming ceremony, President Luong Cuong and President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka led the high-ranking delegations of the two countries to hold talks, assess the results of cooperation between the two countries in the past time, and propose directions for cooperation in the future. The two leaders will also witness the signing ceremony of cooperation documents and meet the press.

Hoai Nam (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-tri/chu-tich-nuoc-luong-cuong-chu-tri-le-don-chinh-thuc-tong-thong-sri-lanka-20250505103245418.htm