CHINA CALLS LANKA ‘STRATEGIC COOPERATION PARTNER’
* Sino- Lanka ties break new ground
* China’s cooperation expands to new sectors
* SL committed to One China policy
The Sri Lanka-China relationship has been elevated from one of
friendship to one of “strategic cooperation,” said Chinese Vice
President Li Yuanchao when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa in China’s
Shaanxi Province yesterday.
 
At the end of what he called “very successful bilateral talks and
visit,” Vice President Yuanchao said China will continue to strengthen
relations with Sri Lanka and expand cooperation into new sectors in what
he described as an equal partnership. President Rajapaksa thanked China
for its support in Sri Lanka’s development, and expressed gratitude for
backing the country at various international and regional fora,
demonstrating commitment to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity.
The President said Sri Lanka is inspired by China’s rapid economic
development and eco-friendly economic policies and assured the Chinese
Vice President that Sri Lanka remains committed to the “one China
policy” that it has maintained for years.
While urging China to further open up the Chinese market to Sri
Lankan products, President Rajapaksa requested Vice President Yuanchao
to look into lowering the price of Sri Lankan tea in the Chinese market.
The President observed that the prices appear to be high and that
lower prices could make the product more accessible to more Chinese
consumers.
With regard to tourism promotion, Vice President Yuanchao promised to
encourage Chinese tourists to visit Sri Lanka. Referring to the South
Asian nation as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” he said that during the
war, tourists were scared to visit Sri Lanka,
but that is not the case anymore since terrorism was eradicated under
the strong leadership of President Rajapaksa.
While President Rajapaksa renewed his invitation to the Chinese
leadership to visit Sri Lanka, Vice President Yuanchao also invited
Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa to lead a youth delegation to China.
Others present at the discussion were External Affairs Minister Prof
G L Peiris, External Affairs Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin de Vaas
Gunawardena, Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Douglas Devananda,
Parliamentarian A H M Azwer, Secretary to the President Lalith
Weeratunga, Chief-of-Staff Gamini Senerath and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in
China Ranjith Uyangoda were also present. |
