September 2nd of every year is a special day for the Vietnamese people in every corner of the world.
They will never forget their nation’s Independence Day, thunderous moment when our great hero,
late President Ho Chi Minh, declared independence on this day in 1945.
The Vietnamese people commemorate this National Day with a refreshed spirit and renewed
enthusiasm for further in-depth and extensive socio-economic reform, with a view to accelerating
the development process and raising the living standard of the people. Vietnam is an active,
responsible member and a reliable partner in the international community, pursuing a foreign
policy of independence, sovereignty, openness, diversification, and multilateralization of its
external relations.
The friendship between Vietnam and Sri Lanka goes back much further than the establishment of
official diplomatic relations in 1970. Since then, our two countries’ long-standing friendship and
multi-faced cooperation have grown in many aspects, including politics, economics, defense and
security, education and culture. The two countries share many similarities, particularly in
geography, religion, and culture. Love for nature and close family relationships, combined with
deep spirituality, add value to our societies, while our countries’ similar geographical locations
provide ample opportunities for economic and trade growth.
Vietnam and Sri Lanka have collaborated more closely than ever during the recent years. The fourth
Political Consultation, held in January 2022, consolidated the two countries’ political ties while
opening up new avenues for future cooperation. Despite the effect of the COVID pandemic, twoway trade turnover has been steadily increasing, providing more opportunities for the two
countries to accelerate trade relations. Meanwhile, the number of Vietnamese students including
Buddhist monks and nuns who intend to undertake their higher studies in Sri Lanka is also on the
rise.
More activities have been and are being undertaken with the facilitation of the two Diplomatic
Missions to strengthen ties in all areas, particularly people-to-people and religious ties. The
construction of a statue of our great leader, President Ho Chi Minh, and a Vietnam corner at the
Colombo Public Library in 2013 provides proud highlights to the two countries’ close social and
cultural relations. Every year on the 19th of May, on the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, the Sri
Lanka Vietnam Solidarity Association joins hands with the Embassy of Vietnam in Sri Lanka to pay
flower tributes to our great leader at the Ho Chi Minh Statue. The Embassy of Vietnam organized
the first-ever “Pho Day in Colombo” in March 2022 to promote Vietnamese food culture in Sri
Lanka.
Potentials for revitalizing the existing MoU on Cultural Cooperation between the two countries are
being examined, and discussions are underway to collaborate in the preservation of cultural
heritages in both countries.
Moreover, a number of milestones mark recent improvements in Buddhist cooperation, including
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnam Buddhist University and the
Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy in Kandy, the visit of a Vietnamese Buddhist Delegation
to Sri Lanka, the granting of land by the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies to
construct a Vietnamese Temple and a Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, and the donation of Vietnamese
artifacts to the Museum at the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy.
Commending Sri Lanka’s unwavering support for Vietnam throughout its history, the Vietnamese
government and people have always stood by Sri Lanka as it faces challenges. Accordingly, Vietnam
has so far mobilized various forms of aid to address the difficulties faced by Sri Lankans during the
recent economic crisis. These assistances include medical supplies, necessities, and funds for the
most vulnerable people.
Moving forward, a number of additional activities are planned ahead to strengthen our friendly
relations. A number of MoU renewals are being considered including agriculture, education,
fisheries, security, mass media and Buddhist cooperation. While construction of a Vietnamese
temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, is set to begin, talks are underway to give Vietnam a sapling of the
sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura. Exhibitions, film festivals, and cultural events will also
help to strengthen people-to-people ties by exposing our cultural identities to one another.
With deep mutual trust and understanding, we are confident that our two countries have ample
opportunities to elevate our bilateral relations to a new strategic level. We will effectively
cooperate and continue to collaborate on regional and international platforms for regional and
global peace, stability, and development.
Since its re-establishment in 2011, the Embassy of Vietnam in Sri Lanka has made significant
contributions to the achievement of these important objectives. As the Ambassador of Vietnam to
Sri Lanka, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my and this Embassy’s commitment to
bringing our two countries’ collaboration to new heights.
