With love, they come from China

Pu Zhendong (China Daily)

Buses decorated with scenic photos of Sri Lanka were in service in major Chinese cities to boost tourism to the island nation. Sri Lanka's Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda said on Wednesday the Sri Lanka tourism authority had paid to deck out 50 city buses each in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu with landscape photographs of the island so that more Chinese people will learn of its natural beauty.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wikaramasinghe Rajapaksa with Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Picture by Sudath Silva

The ambassador encouraged Chinese visitors to explore the island, known as a paradise in the Indian Ocean for its scenic beauty.

The number of Chinese tourists in Sri Lanka rose in the first quarter increased by 56 percent year-on-year, said Guo Qinghua, Marketing Manager at the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. The total number of tourists expected this year is 60,000.

President's visit to China

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was on a four-day state visit to China, his seventh trip to China.

President Rajapaksa met with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing and also attended the 2013 Special Conference of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, or ICAPP, in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province.

Uyangoda said the two countries signed a series of political, economic, cultural and tourism agreements during the visit.

"The visit was significant with regard to China-Sri Lanka friendship, which is traditional and long-standing," Uyangoda said, adding that the meetings laid a solid foundation for future relations in politics, culture and the economy.

In late April, the fifth joint committee meeting on trade and economic cooperation between the two countries was convened in Colombo.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda

China and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation worth $16 million and an agreement on a concessional loan - with generous terms - of $147 million by China to Sri Lanka for the Hambantota port project, according to media reports.

Analysts said the port, on the southern tip of the island nation a few kilometres from one of the world's busiest East-West shipping lanes, is envisioned as a future refueling and service point for cargo ships.

China Harbour Engineering Co and Sinohydro Corp jointly completed the first phase of construction in November 2010.

Economic development

Uyangoda said the second phase has just started and added that the port will be the largest one in South Asia, capable of accommodating 33 vessels at any given time.

"Construction of the Hambantota port creates jobs for local people and helps to boost trade and economic development of Sri Lanka," he said.

Hu Shisheng, a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that Sri Lanka, due to its strategic position and lucrative natural resources, is on track to become a major player in South Asia.

"The country, recovering after 26 years of civil war (ending in 2009), is in dire need of external investment to improve its infrastructure," Hu said.

Tourists enjoying Lanka's scenic beauty

Sri Lanka is emulating Singapore by developing its shipping and port service industries, he added.

"Also, Chinese entrepreneurs might want to consider transferring some industries hampered by excess capacity and increasing labour cost," he said.

The ambassador said that Sri Lanka aims to transform from a developing to a middle-income economy by 2016, doubling the GDP per capita to $4,000.

Trade between China and Sri Lanka soared to a record high of $3.17 billion last year.

Uyangoda said talks have been conducted on further tapping the trade potential. He hopes that more Sri Lankan products, like Ceylon tea, gems and fish, will have better access to China's vast market.

He also called on Chinese companies to keep close attention to the numerous investment opportunities of infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. "Our tax policy is very flexible, and Chinese companies in Sri Lanka are quite pleased with the investment environment," he said.

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