Enriching of Sino-Lanka relations

The signing of eight bilateral agreements worth US$ 800 million between China and Sri Lanka, aimed at boosting this country's development prospects, could be considered a profound moment of triumph in Sino-Lanka relations.

All credit to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for helping to seal these accords between the world's fastest growing economy and us, for, they meet a number of our long-term development needs, besides adding greater depth and warmth to our centuries long ties with China. Long live, Sino-Lanka links, is our wish.

As could be seen, the agreements clinched with our friendly economic giant of East Asia, pertain mainly to infrastructure development - an area in which we have been found to be lagging behind other developing countries whose economic fortunes are now on the mend.

Two landmark development ventures which will be getting off the ground in this country with generous Chinese assistance, the Norachcholai coal power project and the Hambantota port project, bear out the fact that our ties with China have grown in both depth and scope.

There is no doubt that the successful completion of infrastructure development projects of this kind would impact very favourably on our long-term development plans and bring us abundant economic dividends. The Norachcholai project, for instance, would help in meeting our power and energy needs and prove a major fillip in the further industrialization of our country.

The positive impact the Hambantota port project would have on our international trade prospects, needs hardly be elaborated on.

Likewise, joint ventures in the tourism and technical fields would undoubtedly help in the further diversification and energising of our economy and assist us in growing out of economic paradigms which have stifled our development in the past.

However it is not only on account of anticipated material and economic benefits that we warmly welcome this deepening of our relations with the People's Republic of China. We note with great satisfaction that projects of an educational and cultural kind are also on the drawing boards. One of these is the establishment here of the Confucius Institute which would serve as a memorial to the great Chinese philosopher Confucius-a household name in Asia and in the world.

While it is true that the People's Republic of China is Asia's economic power- house, it should not be forgotten that China is also heir to one of the world's greatest civilizations. Her achievements in the field of the Humanities and human thought is epitomised by Confucius, a path-breaker in Eastern philosophy. Besides, China and Sri Lanka share commonalities in Buddhism and these golden threads that bind our civilizations have very ancient roots.

Accordingly, making our relations with China multidimensional by building on our common spiritual and philosophical roots, could be described as most timely and welcome.

It is no coincidence that this further enriching of our ties with China is coming at a time when yet another Bandaranaike is steering the affairs of State in Sri Lanka. President Kumaratunga is, of course, heir to her father, SWRD Bandaranaike's foreign policy principles - such as Non-Alignment- and it is the conduct of our foreign affairs on this principle over the past 11 years, which has enabled Sino-Lanka ties to flourish continuously.

The pivotal role being played by China in world affairs today, draws attention to the importance of the development paradigm she has been pursuing over the years.

While continuing to be a good friend of China we also need to study closely her pragmatic approach to development which has made her a foremost economic and military power.