PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc andreceives Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in Hà Nội on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — The Prime Ministers of Việt Nam and Sri Lanka have agreed to strive to bring two-way trade to US$1 billion during their meeting in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe said despite positive progress, bilateral co-operation across the fields has yet to match the two countries’ potential. They reached a consensus that the second meeting of the joint trade sub-committee should be held as early as possible in Việt Nam to seek ways to bolster trade.

The two government leaders also shared the view that the joint committee should hold the fourth meeting in 2019 and the two countries should sign an MoU on fishery co-operation for the next three years.

They agreed to facilitate the expansion of partnership in fields of potential for co-operation such as education-training, telecommunications, information and digital technology, oil and gas, aviation, maritime, processing of agricultural and aquatic products, cultural and art exchange, Buddhism, sports, and youth exchange.

PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is in Việt Nam to attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018, praised the accomplishments that Việt Nam had made in socio-economic development in the past years and the country’s increasing role in the region and the world, saying that "Việt Nam is a model of socio-economic development for other countries".

He expressed the wish to set up ties between the ruling party in Sri Lanka and the Communist Party of Việt Nam, while affirming the intention to continue working closely with Việt Nam at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations and the Non-aligned Movement.

Phúc stressed that the two countries should pay attention to aviation connection, which he said is the most effective way to develop trade and tourism.

He asked Sri Lanka to play an active role in ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea (South China Sea) and advocating the adherence to international law and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means. — VNS