Viet Nam, Sri Lanka target $1 bln trade by 2015   Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) meets with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Professor G. L. Peiris in Colombo yesterday.- Photos dailynews.lk COLOMBO (VNS)- Viet Nam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Sri Lanka and will work together to raise two-way trade value to US$1 billion by 2015, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said in Colombo yesterday. In meetings with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne and Speaker of Parliament Chamal Jayantha Rajapaks, and talks with Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris, Minh expressed his belief that Sri Lanka would soon fulfil the set targets in its Mahinda Chintana programme. This would turn it into an important economic, trade, aviation, maritime and intellectual centre in the region, making contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world at large, he added. The two sides spoke highly of positive developments in bilateral relations in the recent past, especially in economics, trade, culture and education and the significance of President Truong Tan Sang's state-level visit to Sri Lanka in October 2011. They shared the view that both sides should further strengthen exchanges and meetings at all levels between political parties, legislative bodies and people. They also agreed that they maintain valid co-operation mechanisms like joint committees, hold political consultations, and set up sub-committees for co-operation in specific areas.   Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended the inaugural ceremony of President Ho Chi Minh's statue in Colombo. They agreed to encourage and create conditions their enterprises to do business in each other's country, especially in tea production and processing in Viet Nam, and the exploration and supply of oil products in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan leaders said Minh's visit would help deepen bilateral relations. They spoke highly of Viet Nam's development achievements, saying they hope to benefit from the country's experience and support in agriculture and aquaculture. Sri Lanka is willing to help Viet Nam in legal and international justice issues, they said. They also congratulated Viet Nam on its election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 tenure and affirmed they want Viet Nam to play a more important role in international forums, such as the UN and the Non-aligned Movement. Earlier the same day, Minh attended the inaugural ceremony of President Ho Chi Minh's statue in Colombo.-VNS