MoU to build Chinese Cultural Centre

Priyanka KURUGALA

Culture and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake and his Chinese counterpart Cai Wu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a Chinese Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka during the minister's visit to China.

Culture and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake and Chinese counterpart Cai Wu exchanging the MoU.

The minister was touring China on the invitation of its Cultural Minister Cai Wu, to participate in the ninth Cultural Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The MoU will strengthen the friendly relationship and understanding between the peoples and governments of the two countries. It will promote the development of exchange and cooperation in the field of humanities.

The two ministers recalled historic and friendly relations between the two countries.

The Chinese minister recollected his visit to Sri Lanka in 2004 and said Sri Lanka and China enjoyed a strong relationship in all areas of cooperation.

Minister Wu referred to the Rubber-Rice Agreement signed between Sri Lanka and China in 1952 and said the support given to China by Sri Lanka is in the minds of the Chinese people.

Minister Ekanayake represented Sri Lanka at the ninth Cultural Ministers Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Beijing on June 5.

Minister Ekanayake said Sri Lanka enjoys a close and cordial relationship with the member states of the SCO.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda, Cultural and Arts Ministry Additional Secretary NPVC Piyathilake and Adviser Sirinimal Lakdusinghe also participated.