Buddhist delegation meets Premier

Sri Lanka's stand on one China policy and her steadfast support to China on the Tibetan question and other major issues at international fora had strengthened mutual understanding and trust between the two countries, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne told a 12 member Chinese Buddhist delegation headed by People's Republic of China, State Administration for Religious Affairs Minister Wang Zuoan when theypaid a courtesy call on him at Visumpaya on November 20.

Zuoan was a special invitee for the 25th General Council Sessions of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) convened in Colombo from November 13 to 17. It also marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of WFB. Among the delegates who met the Prime Minister were seven Chinese monks of whom two monks represented Tibetan and Theravada streams of Buddhism prevailing in some parts of China.

All Ceylon Buddhist Congress President Jagath Sumathipala, Prime Minister's Secretary S Amarasekara and ACBC and Prime Minister's Office officials participated at the discussions. The Prime Minister thanked China's participation at the WFB council sessions by sending the biggest delegation to the event, numbering over 65 members.

Prime Minister Jayaratne touched on the progressive development of religious and cultural relations between the two countries from Far Hien's visit in the 5th century AD up to date.

With the establishment of the Government of People's Republic of China in 1949 and the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact in 1952, rapid development of economic and cultural ties took place between the two countries. During the last five decades development assistance to Sri Lanka from China in the form of grants, outright gifts and soft loans for various development projects had accelerated Sri Lanka's economic development, he said.

Zuoan expressed the delegations gratitude for the invitation tended for Chinese participation in WFB anniversary celebrations.