China fetes Premier

People's Republic of China State Council Premier Wen Jiabao in a message congratulating Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne said relations between the two countries have always developed healthily and smoothly.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said: "It is a pleasure to learn your assumption of office as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you on behalf of the Chinese Government and my own.

China and Sri Lanka are traditional friendly close neighbours. Relations between our two countries have always developed healthily and smoothly. The mutual political trust has been continuously enhanced with increasingly closer exchanges and cooperation in various areas and sound coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues. The China-Sri Lanka friendly relations have brought tangible benefits to our two peoples.

In the days to come, I wish to make joint efforts with you to further uplift the China-Sri Lanka All-round Cooperative Partnership to a new level for the welfare of our two countries and peoples."