China, Lanka trade tops US $ 3 bn
Indunil HEWAGE
The total bi-lateral trade value between Sri Lanka and China topped
US $ 3.2 billion, which is the highest in the history. Sri Lanka’s
exports to china have increased by 5.9% to $ 162 million in 2012 in
comparison to 2011. China’s exports to Sri Lanka reached over US$ 3
billion in 2012.
Investments from China to Sri Lanka were likely to increase this year
as against US $ 243 million recorded in 2012. In the past year
trade,investment and economic cooperation between our two countries made
great achievements in spite of the international economic situation. “We
are planning to continue our investment cooperation with Sri Lanka in
future too,” Wang Yingqi, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of China
said.
The cooperation in the infrastructure sector also made great strides.
Major projects, like Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in
Hambantota, Putlam Power Plant, Colombo-Katunayake Expressway, Colombo
Lotus Tower, South Container Terminal of Colombo Port, Extension Lines
of South Highway from Pinnaduwa to Godagama and the railway from Matara
to Beliatta and some road construction projects like, A9 to Jaffna were
all working well.
“We believe the future of bi-lateral economic cooperation lies on
industrial and manufacture sector, which could attract a great deal of
Chinese investment together with technology, machinery and management.
Sri Lanka is the best country to invest in the South Asian region or
even a better location than some of the ASEAN countries,” Yingqi said. |