Lanka-China ties get stronger day by day - envoy
Suraj A Bandara
Bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and China have strengthened more
during the last decades as both countries treated each other as equals
with sincere mutual support and assistance as well as maintained
amicable consultation and coordination in the international arena,
Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Yang Xiuping said.
She was addressing a seminar organized by the Sri Lanka -China
Friendship Association to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the
founding of the People's Republic of China at Sri Lanka Foundation
Institute yesterday.
'The high level diplomatic contacts of the leaders of the two
countries have injected new momentum into the bilateral relations and
elevated China- Sri Lanka ties to new heights.'
"Under this new background, our bilateral exchange and cooperation in
all aspects are developing vigorously," the ambassador said.
She pointed out the importance of establishing associations in this
calibre to keep contacts.
"As the first friendship organization, the Sri Lanka- China
Friendship Association, has not only witnessed the development of our
bilateral relations, but has also devoted itself a great deal to promote
bilateral relations," Xiuping said.
Addressing the gathering Irrigation and Water Management Minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva said China was a true friend of Sri Lanka for a
long period.
The relations between the countries were maintained for ages
continuously though governments changed from time to time, he said.
China assisted Sri Lanka even during difficult periods. "When the
LTTE terrorism created problems, China not only supplied weapons but
also remained a friend who motivated Sri Lanka to defeat terrorism," he
said.
UNP MP John Amaratunga said that at present the most popular
ambassador in Sri Lanka is the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yang
Xiuping.
"During her tenure, Sri Lanka received maximum support from China,"
he said. |