Visit by China’s second ranked leader :

A milestone in Sino-Lanka ties

Chaminda Perera

Wu Bangguo

Chairman and Party Secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Wu Bangguo will arrive in Sri Lanka shortly.

He will be here on Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s invitation. He is ranked second in official ranking of state and party leaders. An official ceremony will be held in Colombo to receive the high- level Chinese delegation led by Wu in Colombo.

He is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Premier D M Jayaratne and Speaker Rajapaksa during his stay here.

Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Wu Janghao said this is the first time a high- ranking official of the Chinese legislature was visiting Sri Lanka.“His visit marks an important milestone in Sino – Lankan ties. Wu will discuss matters of mutual importance and regional issues during his meeting with the Sri Lankan leadership,” he said.

Addressing the media at the Chinese embassy in Colombo yesterday, the ambassador said China and Sri Lanka are expected to sign a number of agreements strengthening economic, cultural and social ties between the two nations.

The ambassador said the visit of the Chinese chief legislator will strengthen ties between the legislatures of the two countries.

“China and Sri Lanka are genuine friends and their relationship is an example to other countries,” he said.

Wu said Speaker Rajapaksa led a delegation to China and met Wu Bangguo. The ambassador said this year marks the 55th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations and 60th anniversary since signing of the historic rubber rice pact.