China firmly behind Lanka’s development effort

From Ranil Wijayapala in China

BEIJING: The Chinese Government pledged firm support towards the development of the country and for the Sri Lankan Government’s effort for unity, territorial integrity and national reconciliation when President Mahinda Rajapaksa met the three highest-ranking leaders in China during his official visit.

Apart from the Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Mahinda Rajapaksa also met Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the Chairman of the National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo and had extensive and fruitful discussions with them yesterday.

Prior to his meeting with Premier Jiabao President Rajapaksa met the Chinese business community along with the Sri Lankan business community representing various fields.

During the President’s discussions with the three Chinese leaders, the need for strengthening the longstanding friendship and ties in the spheres of economy, trade, education, culture, tourism and industries was highlighted.

President Jintao, during his discussion with President Rajapaksa pledged to increase the number of opportunities for Sri Lankan students to enter Universities in China.

The leaders of two countries also discussed ways of exchanging students between the two countries and opening up new avenues for higher education opportunities from students of both countries.

President Rajapaksa also urged Chinese investors to invest in Sri Lanka as they can benefit from the investor friendly environment in the country for major investors worldwide.

President Rajapaksa also focused on the strategies that would increase bilateral trade between the two countries.

The President during his meeting with Chinese Premier Jiabao, expressed the hope that the Chinese Government would extend their financial support towards the Hambantota Port development project.

Government officials told the Daily News that there was a positive response from the Chinese Government regarding the Hambantota port development project.

Eight agreements were signed between Sri Lanka and China on the second day of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s State visit to China, states a Presidential Secretariat press release.

The agreements are aimed at further strengthening friendship and economic interests between the two countries. The agreement on Economic and Technical Co-operation was signed by the Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama.

The signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on Urban Development were China’s Minister of Construction Vang Tao and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Urban Development and Sacred City Development, Dinesh Gunawardena.

The Bi-lateral Agreement on Investment Promotion was signed by the Director of China’s Institute of Investment Liu Ja Jun and Secretary Finance Dr. P. B. Jayasundera. Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary Foreign Affairs together with China’s Deputy Minister of External Affairs Tian Kai signed the Friendship Agreement between the District of Hambantota in Sri Lanka and the city of Guanshu in China.

To other Memoranda of Agreement signed were with regard to Agriculture and the use of Agricultural Machinery, Co-operation in the Cinema Industry, Eye Donation and the Exchange of Students between the University of Kelaniya and the University of Foreign Studies, Beijing.