Focus on people to people contact:

Lanka-China ties at all time high

Chaminda PERERA

Relations between Sri Lanka and China are at its peak and the two countries cooperate in almost all sectors. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Bejing has focused on the promotion of people to people contact between the two countries by consolidating ties with provincial governments in China. The Embassy has succeeded in persuading Sri Lankan exporters to tap the huge potential in Chinese market for their products. Interviewed by the Daily News, Sri Lankan Ambassador in China Karunathilake Amunugama says that Chinese still remember and value the Sino Lanka relations during Mrs Bandaranaike’s era

Following is the interview....

Q: How do you see Sino Lanka relations?

A: The relations between Sri Lanka and China began in late 1940s formally and we were the first non-Communist country to recognize the People’s Republic of China even before the United Nations.

The people of China have very high respect for former Prime Ministers Sirimavo Bandaranaike and SWRD Bandaranaike. Very senior officials of the Chinese Government who are in their 50s and 60s still remember how they took to street with Lion flags to welcome Sirimavo Bandaranaike in Beijing. Sri Lanka has been trustworthy friend and the people of China always value this longstanding friendship.

They remember with gratitude the role played by the Former Prime Ministers Bandaranaikes in strengthening ties between the two countries. The feelings of Chinese towards Sri Lanka is very sentimental and warm.

There was a strong feeling of friendliness and warmness between the people of both countries during former Prime Ministers Bandaranaikes and Chinese Premier Chue En Lai’s period. The bilateral relations cooled down with the embrace of open economic policy by Sri Lanka in the late ‘70s and the West centric policy adopted by the then Government.

Q: How do you see the bilateral relations under President Mahinda Rajapaksa?

A: Ties between the two countries have strengthened in an unprecedented way. Soon after President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power, he decided to revive the longstanding friendship with China and has made three official visits to China on the invitation of the Chinese Government.

During President Rajapaksa’s visit, he signed a number of cooperation agreements with China. Sri Lanka has signed a number of agreements with foreign countries but the question lies on the number of agreements that were brought to implementation level.

All agreements signed by China and Sri Lanka were implemented with the cooperation extended by the two countries. These agreements cover a wide spectrum of cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, society and the development.

Two Presidents at their meeting in Bejing stressed the importance of promoting people to people contact between the two countries in order to perpetuate bilateral relations.

Q: Why did President Rajapaksa seek Chinese assistance for the construction of the Hambantota harbour?

A: President Rajapaksa explained to the Chinese leaders why he needed assistance for the construction of Hambantota harbour. He said that Hambantota and adjoining districts are the least developed districts in the country.

The President pointed out that the Western province in Sri Lanka achieved tremendous development with the construction of Colombo harbour and Hambantota and the surrounding regions would also see development if this port is constructed in Hambantota.

The President described the importance of this harbour to Sri Lanka and its development due to its close proximity to international sea routes. The Chinese Government hailed President Rajapaksa’s sincere desire in bringing Hambantota and adjoining districts under the massive development drive with the construction of the Hambantota Port.

The deep feelings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has towards the country and the people were recognized by the Chinese Government.

Chinese leaders and officials told me that this kind of strong feeling towards the Motherland by a leader is something very special.

Q: What kind of role do you and your embassy play in promoting relations between the two countries?

A: As Sri Lankan Ambassador in Beijing, I am committed to implement President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision beneficial to the country.

The Sri Lankan Embassy and the Consulate in Shanghai and Gonghoi are practically working round the clock. Anybody can contact us at anytime and we are attending to whatever the needs that they require.

We have focused on tourism and trade. I asked my Commercial Division to identify five main products that can be exported to China.

They have identified tea, rubber, gems and jewellery, coir products and various accessories such as handicraft to be exported from Sri Lanka. We held trade exhibitions in China and encouraged our producers to participate in such exhibitions.

The Embassy has entered into agreements with several trade organizations and Chambers in China to promote our products.

Q: How did you encourage gem and jewellery businessmen to unearth major potential in the Chinese market?

A: It was a huge task to encourage the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery traders to participate in the gem and jewellery Expo in China three years back.

We had to provide free transport to them and find subscribed hotel accommodation. But the situation has now changed. The Sri Lankan gems and jewellery exports sector has grown in such a way that a minimum of 10 - 15 Sri Lankan traders can be found in any part of China at any given time.

The Gem and Jewellery Association of China which has a number of umbrella organizations gives special rates to Sri Lankan gem and jewellery traders. Now we do not get involved in gem and jewellery sector much. Sri Lankan businessmen engaged in gems and jewellery business come to China and find a market and make money. Gems and jewellery exports to China have grown by 100 percent during the past three years.

Q: How do you see the Sri Lankan exports volume to China?

A: Sri Lanka is the only country which has posted a positive increase in exports to the Chinese market during the recent global financial crisis.

The total value of Sri Lankan exports to China has increased from US$ 35 million in 2007 to US$ 90 million last year. Our target is to increase it to US$ 100 million by the end of this year.

The Chinese Government and different agencies in China provide many facilities to Sri Lankan exporters. They introduced a concessionary tax for Sri Lankan exporters. Free stalls are given to Sri Lankan exporters to display their products.

Q: There were a number of criticisms from the part of Opposition that large numbers of Chinese workers are being employed in Sri Lanka. What do you have to say about that?

A: The number of Chinese workers in Sri Lanka is minimal and they will leave the country after the projects are completed. Skilled workers and experts for the projects such as construction of the Hambantota Port, construction of Norochcholai coal power plant are hardly found in the local market. The Chinese companies involved in mega projects have vast experience in carrying out such mega projects and they require skilled workers and experts to meet the deadlines.

These companies know that the cost would be higher if they fail in completing the project in time.

Half of the workforce involved in the construction of the Performing Arts Theatre in the Colombo has already left the country as the project is nearing completion. Critics may have sometime misunderstood the presence of a large number of Chinese in the country. Chinese tourist arrivals have increased by 50 percent.

Q: How do you see China’s interest in Sri Lanka?

A: China’s interest in Sri Lanka as a friendly country are very clear and genuine. China as a friendly country is interested in seeing the country free from terrorism. It is the Chinese policy to see a stable government in the country and ensure that Sri Lanka is on the path of development.

China is of the view that the development of countries in the region augurs well for stability in the region too.

Q: There was skepticism by the Opposition over the interest shown by China in Sri Lanka?

A: Politicians, writers can write or speak anything about what China is doing in Sri Lanka and that cannot be avoided. But China’s help to Sri Lanka is genuinely to ensure the development of the country. China is genuine in helping other countries in the region to achieve the goal of development. It wants to see that other countries in the region are also on the path of development.

Q: What is the strategy adopted by the Government to achieve development goals?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has clearly outlined Sri Lanka’s policy. The President has said that Sri Lanka has its own interests. We always put our country first in all our dealings with foreign countries. The President has said that the Government led by him succeeded in eradicating terrorism and the Government now faces the war for economic prosperity. He said the country is ready to work with any individual or country willing to assist us.

Q: What kind of strategy do you follow to forge more closer relations with China?

A: China is a larger country where the population exceeds 1.5 billion and most of the people are living outside Beijing. During the past 50 years Sri Lanka interacted with Central Government officials in Beijing. We had a Beijing based diplomacy. The provincial governments in China are equally powerful and have the freedom to take their own decisions. We focus on developing contacts with peripherals to bring relations between the two countries to new heights. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited most number of cities in China during his official visit to China in 2008. We opened a consulate in Shanghai in 2007 and it is looking after the Eastern part of China. The Tourism industry is flourishing with the record increase of tourist arrivals from Shanghaic SriLankan Airlines opened four flights a week. A number of political and business leaders in Shanghai visited Sri Lanka. We are participating in the Shanghai Expo in a big way. Another office was opened in Chengdu in the Sichuan province where the population is 90 million. Sri Lanka has focused on developing more closer relations with Yunan province of China. Kunming, the capital of Yunan province is only 3,000 Km away from Colombo. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka and Yunan creates favourable condition for closer partnership. Both this year and last year Sri Lanka participated in South Asian Countries Trade Fair in Yunan. A number of industries such as the tourism and leisure industries grow with the increase of people to people contact between Sri Lanka and the provinces in China. The Yunan government took a decision to begin flights from Colombo to Kuming thrice a week. It augurs well for tourism in both countries. The provincial government is confident that this novel flight service would prosper.

Q: What do Chinese people think of Sri Lanka? What is their general view?

A: Chinese people are very enthusiastic about Sri Lanka. They make many enquiries about Sri Lanka and its stability after ending the war on terrorism. All these are positive signs for consolidating more close ties with China. Politicians, members of the business community and intellectuals in China have started thinking of Sri Lanka. They want to visit the country. Thy did not show much interest in visiting Sri Lanka earlier due to terrorism and the adverse propaganda campaign launched by the terrorists.

Q: What kind of role is the mission playing to promote Sri Lankan products in China?

A: We met a number of importers, retailers and wholesale traders in China. They are willing to accept Sri Lankan products. We are promoting Sri Lanka’s immense potential in almost all fields to attract more Chinese investment.