China will continue to support Sri Lanka - Chinese Prime Minister

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka met with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on October 16 in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.

Congratulating Sri Lanka on the recent achievements including the victory over terrorism and applauding the efforts made to overcome the many challenges faced in the rehabilitation and development in the North and the East, Premier Wen Jiabao stated that China will continue to work with the Government of Sri Lanka in triumphing over all difficulties.

China, as was the case in the past, will persistently support Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and national integrity and look forward to economic prosperity in Sri Lanka, Premier Wen added.

While thanking the Chinese Government and the people for supporting Sri Lanka in her massive development drive through various projects such as the Hambantota Port Development Project and the Norochcholai coal power project, Prime Minister Wickramanayaka called for further assistance in areas of infrastructure development, trade, investment, economy, and education.

“Assistance from China has been enormous... reconstruction and improvement of the standard of living of the people in Sri Lanka is now our priority... we look forward to China’s continued support in future,” Prime Minister Wickramanayaka said.

Premier Wen Jiabao said that China will encourage Chinese investors and financial institutions to invest in and to support Sri Lanka and that the Chinese Government will ensure quality of the development projects assisted by China.

“We value our strong friendship and cooperation with Sri Lanka” Premier Wen Jiabao added.

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, Minister of Commerce Cheng Deming and several senior Ministers and high level officials joined the Chinese Premier at this meeting. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Karunatilaka Amunugama, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister S. Miyanawela and members of the Prime Minister’s delegation were also present.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair.