‘China has no self interest in SL’

Priyanka Kurugala

Deputy Head of Mission and Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Ren Faqiang delivering the Keynote address. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

China and Sri Lanka are true friends, and cooperative partners. More Chinese tourists are to visit this beautiful island of Sri Lanka, Deputy Head of Mission and Political Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Colombo Ren Faqiang said.

China has no self interest in Sri Lanka. What China pursues is common development and mutual cooperation. Sri Lankan friends will see more Chinese state-owned and private enterprises make investments in Sri Lanka, he said.

He was delivering the Keynote address at a seminar organized by Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC) at the National Library Services Board yesterday, under the theme of China’s New leadership and a better Sri Lanka-China Relations.

After the new Chinese leadership took office, we have confidence in expecting brighter prospects for China-Sri Lanka ties, he said.

Ren refered to the recent telephone conversation between President Rajapaksa and new Chinese President Xi Jinping and noted that the Lankan President was among the first six Heads of States to wish the new Chinese leader. During the conversation with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Xi stressed that China would firmly support Sri Lanka’s efforts to protect its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said. The phone call by the Chinese leader to President Rajapaksa shows the great importance China has attached to its relationship with Sri Lanka and has injected a new impetus to further development of the bilateral relations, he said.

Ren elaborated the Chinese Dream, a concept pushed forward by Chinese President Xi, which means the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It includes the country’s prosperity and people’s happiness. When the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 100th anniversary in the middle of the century, China will be a prosperous, democratic, civilized and harmonious socialist modern country. Pursuing the Chinese dream is conducive to realizing the world dream of durable peace and common prosperity, he said. China’s sustainable development is good news and vast opportunities to the rest of the world. When China continuously grows, it will provide more products and markets to the world and it has more strength and power to support and assist the developing countries, including Sri Lanka, he said.

Executive President of ASLCSCC, Indrananda Abeysekera, also spoke.