China assures full support for Lanka
Sri Lanka, having rid itself of terrorism and embarked on the course
of accelerated economic development with determination, should receive
the support of the international community in achieving its objectives,
China’s Foreign Affairs Minister told External Affairs Minister Prof. G.
L. Peiris in Beijing.
He added that China, for her part, would make the maximum effort to
fulfil Sri Lanka’s needs as the country addresses itself to the task of
attempting to use its natural strengths to improve the lives of its
citizens, with the dawn of peace and stability.
Countries big and small have their own problems, and it is important
to remember that solutions have to be found to suit the circumstances of
each situation in keeping with the wishes of the country in question
without hectoring or pressure from outside, he said.
Prof. Peiris informed China’s Foreign Minister that the Lessons
Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by Presidnet Mahinda
Rajapaksa had held its first public sitting on the previous day and
commenced its work. It is of the utmost importance that the Commission
should receive every encouragement from the international community to
begin and continue its work, Minister Peiris observed.
Thanking Foreign Minister Jiechi for China’s generous assistance with
regard to infrastructure development in Sri Lanka, Minister Peiris said
that Sri Lanka was proud of her achievement in securing a growth rate of
seven percent in respect of her economy.
President Rajapaksa considered it even more importants to ensure that
the benefit of this development should be enjoyed equitably throughout
the island, especially in the rural sector, the Minister added. From
this perspective, Sri Lanka particularly appreciates China’s role in
contributing massively to the development of ports and harbours,
highways and other infrastructure facilities in regions of the island
which had hitherto been relatively neglected, Prof. Peiris said.
In an address delivered to the China Institute of International
Studies, which was attended by leading members of the diplomatic
community and representatives of local as well as Internaitonal media in
Beijing, Prof. Peiris explained Sri Lanka’s experience in defeating
terrorism and putting the country on the fast track of economic
development and national reconciliation.
The Minister also addressed a largely attended Investment Forum at
the Shangrila Kerry Centre in Beijing for leading entrepreneurs of
China, co-hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka and the China Chamber of
Commerce for Export and Import of Machinery and Electronics. |