Yunnan Province business delegation to visit Lanka

CHINA: The Governor of the Yunnan Province of China Qin Guangrong has accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka to lead a business delegation from the Yunnan Province to Sri Lanka next year to promote trade and other business relations between Sri Lanka and his province.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang meets Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka in Chengdu, Capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. Xinhua Photo

The Prime Minister made the invitation during his meeting with the Governor, Qin Guangrong in Kunming, and the capital city of Yunman. Prime Minister Wickramanayaka and the Governor exchanged views on bilateral relations between China and Sri Lanka and they agreed that the historical, cultural and political relations between the two countries provide a sound base for developing closer economic links in trade, investment, tourism and other areas.

The Governor explained that the Yunnan Province maintained very close contacts with countries in South East Asia and South Asia because of its location and stated that the famous Chinese Admiral

Cheng, he who visited Sri Lanka several times in the 15th Century during his maritime expeditions during the Ming dynasty was a native of Yunnan.

The Prime Minister said Sri Lanka had always regarded China as a true friend who stood with Sri Lanka at all times when Sri Lanka was facing difficulties.

Sri Lanka had never wavered from its policy of One China policy and always respected the principle of non interference in internal affairs included in the Panchaseela policy which later provided the foundation for the Non Aligned Movement. The Prime Minister congratulated the Government of China and its people for successfully hosting the Olympics despite many challenges.

He stressed the need to develop contacts at all levels between the two countries to promote relations further. It is in this context that he extended an invitation to the Governor to lead a business delegation to Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister and the Governor agreed that there was potential for developing tourism between Sri Lanka and Yunnan Province as there were cultural relations between the Province and Sri Lanka.

The new airport which is under construction in Kunming is expected to be a hub for air transportation between Western China and other countries, especially in South East Asia and South Asia and it will be one of the major airports in the country which will promote contacts between China and rest of the world.