Sino - Lanka ties have strengthened with time - Education Minister
Irangika Range
Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene yesterday said that Sino -
Lanka ties have been strengthened in an unprecedented manner during
President Rajapaksa's tenure.
The Minister was addressing a ceremony at Lumbini College yesterday
to welcome and felicitate Confucius Institute Headquarters Chief
Executive and Hanban, Director-General Xu Lin, who arrived on a two-day
visit to Sri Lanka.
The Minister further said that China Lanka friendship which began
with FA-Hsiens visit has grown in economic, social, political and
cultural terms.
"China plays a key role in a country's Sustainable Development. We
are highly impressed by the role played by China in the development of
economic, social and cultural sectors of Sri Lanka, " he added.
The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Performing Arts Theatre,
Hambantota Port, Mattala Airport and Norochcholai power plant have been
gifted to Sri Lanka by China.
"The high level exchanges between our two governments and other
interactions in areas of mutual interest have have strengthen
the long standing ties. In fact, it will be right to say that
relations between China and Sri Lanka are at its highest level of
friendship and understanding," he said.
He said it will be possible to deepen the cooperation and friendship
between the two countries with greater trade, more cultural and
people-to-people exchanges.
He said Sri Lanka looks forward to increasing cooperation in trade
and investment with China as the country has already taken many steps to
improve the investment environment. "Today, the Chinese language has
gained a foothold globally. Especially, it is gaining wide popularity in
Western European countries," he added.
Confucius Institute Headquarters Chief Executive and Hanban
Director-General Xu Lin said around 10 Chinese teachers have been sent
to Sri Lanka to teach the Chinese language to Sri Lankan students
through two Confucius Centers at Lumbini College and the Kelaniya
University.
She said Sri Lankan students have paid great interest in learning the
Chinese language since China is a fast moving nation in the world.
Around 400 Sri Lankan students had completed the language programmes
conducted by the two Confucius Centers with eight scholarships granted
to students to learn the Chinese language in China.
"We hope to further increase the number of scholarships granted to
Sri Lankan students," she said.
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