New era of Sino-Lanka cooperation
From Rodney Martinesz in Beijing
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga expressed confidence
that the landmark agreements signed yesterday would mark a new era of
economic and political cooperation between Sri Lanka and China.
Responding to the welcome address by Chinese President Hu Jintao at
the Great Hall of the People where she was given a rousing reception,
President Kumaratunga stressed that the eight agreements would certainly
take economic partnership between the two countries to a higher level.
She noted that for the first time Sri Lanka and China have entered
into joint ventures. "For instance the Hambantota Port which you are
planning to construct is the first major port constructed by any
Government since Independence," she said.
Similarly the Phosphate Mining and Fertiliser Project is also the
first time mining will be done in a scientific way, the President said.
She also mentioned the discussions held in the spheres of tourism
where the focus was centred on various avenues to increase the inflow of
tourists both ways, attractive travel packages and other areas of
cooperation.
She said her Government has prioritised several areas of activity in
the social and economic spheres. The President said her Government gave
the Free Market economy a new face which entailed extensive programmes
of poverty alleviation while meeting the demands of a modern world.
"This meant we had to accelerate infrastructure like ports, power
supply, telephones and social infrastructure like health and education."
"When we took over 12 years ago the country's infrastructure was in a
poor state. We did not have a single express highway and only 30 per
cent of the people in the rural areas had telephone facilities".
Therefore she as President had to embark on an accelerated
infrastructure development programme.
The President told the audience that today over 60 per cent of Sri
Lanka's rural population had electricity and there was a five-fold
increase in telephone subscribers.
The Government was developing express highways and undertaking major
development in the ports and airport.
However, they had lot more to do and it was in this respect that the
agreements assume great significance vis-a-vis major infrastructure
development which her Government has prioritised, the President said.
"This is why I say that relations between our two counties will reach
a new plane."
She thanked the Chinese President for his leadership and guidance to
help make this a reality.
"I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude on behalf of my
Government and the people of Sri Lanka for the assistance very
generously received without any conditions from China". President
Kumaratunga began by recalling the common religious cultural and trade
ties between the two nations dating back centuries.
She also thanked the Chinese leader for his views and sentiments
expressed on a wide range of issues concerning women and for their cause
and for bestowing her, the honour of delivering the keynote address of
the Beijing Women's Conference.
She also said Sri Lanka would give serious consideration to China's
concerns on certain UN reforms adding she looked forward to meeting him
at the world body in a couple of weeks.
Chinese President Jintao at the outset said he trusted that President
Kumaratunga's visit will further promote and foster the traditional
friendship and bilateral ties enjoyed by the two nations over a
considerable time.
He recalled that the President and her family had been longstanding
friends of China which greatly contributed to strong bilateral ties
which China appreciated.
The Chinese leader reiterated his Government's commitment to help Sri
Lanka in her efforts towards protecting the country's sovereignty and
territorial integrity.
Work on Norachcholai to begin by October
From Rodney Martinesz in Beijing
Sri Lanka yesterday signed eight bilateral agreements with China to
the tune of US$ 800 million representing one third of the annual donor
aid to the country.
This included the agreement on the much awaited Norachcholai coal
power project. This is seen as a landmark agreement impacting positively
on Sri Lanka's development.
The MoU was signed on behalf of Sri Lanka by Ceylon Electricity Board
General Manager Ranjit Fonseka and Xia Biao representing the China
National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation (CMEC).
The project is scheduled to start by October this year and will
initially add 300 MW to the National Grid providing a ready answer to
the country's energy crisis.
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga stated that the
Norachcholai power project was the single largest power project
undertaken in Sri Lanka.
"It is a joint venture between the Sri Lankan and Chinese Governments
and will provide a solution to the country's long running energy
crisis," the President said.
The power plant will be built in three phases of 300 MW capacities
each upto the final plant capacity of 900 MW. The project site has been
selected by CEB at Norachcholai where a feasibility study has been
carried out and completed.
The CMEC has proposed to design-build-transfer the coal power plant
which proposal has been considered advantageous to the Sri Lankan
Government by the CEB.
Fonseka said they expect to commence the first stage of Norachcholai
by the end of 2005. While the first phase of the 300 MW project will be
commissioned in 2009, the second and third stages will get underway in
2011 and 2012.It is anticipated that under a credit loan scheme, the
overall electricity charges will come down by as much as 13 per cent in
2010, 22 per cent in 2011 and 32 per cent in 2012.
The move will also obviate the country's dependency on expensive
diesel fuels.Another key MoU signed yesterday relates to Tourism
promotion between China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Sri
Lanka's Tourism Ministry that would facilitate various aspects of
tourism between the two countries.
The other agreements signed are:
. Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the People's
Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
. Economic and Technic Cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.
. Establishment of consulate in Shanghai between the Foreign
Ministries of China and Sri Lanka.
. Joint-Establishment of Confucius Institute in Sri Lanka between the
Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the
Education Ministry of Sri Lanka.
. Utilisation of the Preferential Buyer's Credit from the Government
of the People's Republic of China to the Government of Sri Lanka between
the Export-Import Bank of China and Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry.
Earlier President Kumaratunga met Chinese Finance Minister Jin
Renqing, Air China President Li Jia Xiang, Exim Bank President Li Ruo Gu,
President China Metallurgical Construction Corporation Xu Xiang Chun (Kotte
Sewerage Project), Sun Li Tang Vice Chairman, China Shandong,
International Economic & Technical Corporation (Colombo-Katunayake
expressway) and President, NORINCO.
President's visit enhances Sino-Lanka ties
Several bilateral agreements in the fields of finance, tourism and
culture were signed yesterday in the Chinese capital between Sri Lanka
and the People's Republic of China. President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga and Chinese President Hu Jintao witnessed the signing
ceremony.
Ministers Anura Bandaranaike and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena were the
signatories for Sri Lanka, a press release from the Office of the
President said.
Sri Lanka's Ambassador in China Nihal Rodrigo and Treasury Secretary
Dr. P. B. Jayasundera also signed MoUs on behalf of the Government.
The National Machinery & Equipment Import-Export Corporation of China
and the Ceylon Electricity Board of Sri Lanka (CEB) signed an agreement
to establish the Puttalam Coal Power Plant. General Manager Ranjit
Fonseka signed on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government.
Diplomatic notes were also exchanged for the establishment of a Sri
Lankan Consulate in Shanghai. |