Chinese FM to visit Lanka

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will visit India and Sri Lanka from Sept. 7 to 10, at the invitation of the respective Foreign Affairs Ministers of the two countries.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the announcement on yesterday at a regular press conference in Beijing.

She said it was Yang’s first visit to India and Sri Lanka since taking office in April 2007.

During his stay in India, he will hold talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and meet other Indian leaders.

While in Sri Lanka, Yang will hold talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and meet other Sri Lankan leaders.

Referring to the Sino-Sri Lanka relations, she said the two countries were traditional and friendly neighbours. Bilateral ties had continually progressed since the forging of diplomatic ties, featuring with the frequent high-level visits.

China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to continue pushing forward the neighbourly cooperation, in a bid to further promote the bilateral comprehensive and cooperative partnership.