Lanka has fullest capability to resolve own issues - China’s Foreign
Minister
With regard to developing circumstances generally, Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi assured Prof Peiris that China has total confidence
in the capability of the government and people of Sri Lanka to resolve
their own issues.
He said that China will stand by Sri Lanka in achieving the tasks of
reconciliation and reconstruction.
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External Affairs Minister Prof G L
Peiris with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the
commencement of bilateral discussions in Beijing on Tuesday. |
External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris was received on
Tuesday by Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of
China, at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.
The Foreign Ministers noted that the bilateral relationship between
the two countries is extremely warm and cordial.
Prof Peiris emphasized that Sri Lanka will continue to uphold the
‘One China Policy’ which has been a consistent feature of the country’s
foreign policy. He congratulated China on the heights of irreversible
progress and prosperity which she had attained.
The Foreign Minister of China expressed his government’s appreciation
of the accomplishments of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government in
eradicating terrorism in Sri Lanka and putting the country on the track
of rapid economic development. He cordially invited President Rajapaksa
to visit the People’s Republic of China.
Minister Peiris briefed his counterpart in detail about Sri Lanka’s
position on a range of issues connected with the Darusman Report, the
work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and initiatives
on the part of Inter-Agency Advisory Committee appointed by the
government of Sri Lanka. Minister Peiris, referring to China’s
contribution to the economic development of Sri Lanka, expressed his
appreciation of the generous assistance by China in financing the
Hambantota Port Development Project, the Mattala Airport, the Puttalam
Coal Power Project and the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway.
The two Ministers, while noting that funding for several road
development and reconstruction projects in the North and South of Sri
Lanka have already been finalized, discussed arrangements proposed by
Sri Lanka for Hambantota Harbour Phase II and the Matara-Kataragama new
railroad extension.
Prof Peiris, who observed that 2011 has been characterized as ‘Visit
Sri Lanka Year’, noted that SriLankan Airlines has commenced flight
operations to Shanghai and Guangzhou recently. The two Ministers
recalled with pleasure that China Eastern Airlines commenced its maiden
flight from Kunming to Colombo during the visit to Sri Lanka of the
Governor of the Yunnan Province in August last year.
It was noted that China had granted accredited destination status to
Sri Lanka, facilitating an increased momentum in attracting Chinese
tourists into Sri Lanka. The Ministers expressed confidence that, with
improved air connectivity, more Chinese investments would flow into Sri
Lanka.
Minister Peiris, while appreciating assistance given under the
Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, reiterated that China would benefit from
facilitating more export opportunities and transfer of technology to
upgrade Sri Lanka’s exportable products to China and the rest of the
world. He said that Sri Lanka will take a keen interest in ensuring
maximum participation of our entrepreneurs at the South Asian Fair which
will take place in early June this year. Minister Yang Jiechi said that
his government was committed to the adoption of measures to reduce the
trade imbalance between the two countries.
Prof Peiris said that the National Theatre for the Performing Arts,
built by China, would be accepted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on
behalf of the government of Sri Lanka, at a formal ceremony shortly.
Minister Yang Jiechi accepted with pleasure the invitation extended
to him by Minister Peiris to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient
time.
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