Ambassador Prasanna Gamage visits Bac Ninh Province of Viet Nam
Ambassador Prasanna Gamage visits Bac Ninh Province of Viet Nam
At the invitation of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Mr. Prasanna Gamage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam undertook a familiarization visit to Bac Ninh Province of Viet Nam on 27 November 2020. Though smallest in size, Bac Ninh is the highest industrial products manufacturer of Viet Nam and the second in terms of exports value of its products. Bac Ninh has 10 industrial zones, which attracted FDIs worth USD 2.3 billion in 2019.
Ambassador Gamage was welcomed by Dr. Vuong Quoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh Province and other senior officials of the Provincial Government. During the meeting Mr. Gamage and Dr. Tuan discussed the potential cooperation between Bac Ninh Province and Sri Lanka relating to trade, investment, culture, education, tourism and increasing people to people contacts etc. Dr. Tuan stated that Bac Ninh and Sri Lanka share many complementarities and therefore, the cooperation and relations should be enhanced in the future. He also sought assistance of Sri Lanka for Bac Ninh with regard to its application for recognition by UNESCO under Intangible Cultural Heritage of Dong Ho paintings of Bac Ninh. Dong Ho is a traditional art of painting, which has been continuing for more than 1000 years.
The meetings with senior officials of Bac Ninh was followed by a visit to Phat Tich Pagoda, which is more than 1000 years old. Phat Tich Pagoda and the Monastery are considered as citadels of Theravada Buddhism of Northern Viet Nam until Chinese invasions.
Ambassador Gamage was accompanied by Mr. Pham Van Linh, Vice President of the Central Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the President of Viet Nam – Sri Lanka Friendship Association, Ven. Dr. Thich Duc Tien, General Secretary of Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, Mdm. Ho Thi Thanh Truc, Ambassador-designate of Viet Nam to Sri Lanka, Ms. Prasadi Boomawalage, Third Secretary/Commercial, Mr. Anjana Illeperuma, Attaché of the Embassy and other senior members of the VUFO.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ha Noi
30 November 2020
