China will promote alignment between BRI and President’s manifesto: Ambassador

• Symmetry of ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ and ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ to be explored 
• Chinese Ambassador issuing NY message wishes prosperity to all Sri Lankans 
• Says despite challenges bilateral relations made progress in 2020
• Points to Port City, H’tota Port and tyre factory as key examples 
• Multiple projects will bring capital, jobs and tax revenue to SL 
• Hopes to see Kidney Hospital completed this year  

China will promote the alignment of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ manifesto to promote economic and social engagement between the two countries, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said in a New Year message issued yesterday. 

The message issued by the Chinese Embassy in Colombo pointed out that over the past year, China and Sri Lanka had maintained close high-level exchanges and enhanced mutual political trust. 

“Guided by the important consensus reached by our leaders, we join hands to respond to the challenging international and regional situation. We promote the alignment of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative,’ together with the ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,’” the statement read, adding that the Chinese Ambassador wished all Sri Lankans a prosperous and peaceful 2021.  

Ambassador Qi went onto say that collaboration between China and Sri Lanka could be seen in the progressive achieved by the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port as well as in the new projects of the International Financial Centre and the Ceylon Tire Manufacturing Company, both of which were launched in 2020.  

“We are also expecting the grant projects such as the National Kidney Diseases Hospital in Polonnaruwa, and the Joint Research Centre for Water Technology in the University of Peradeniya to be completed. All of these will bring more and more capital, jobs and tax revenues to Sri Lanka, and contribute to the economic recovery, sustainable development and poverty alleviation of Sri Lanka. We are together building a global community of health, and a community with a shared future for mankind,” the message added.

The Ambassador also quoted a Chinese poem – “Past a fallen ship, one thousand sail onward; for a sick tree, ten thousand thrive by spring” – as a metaphor for the challenges faced by many countries in 2020. 

“China-Sri Lanka friendship and cooperation are facing huge opportunities. As the Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, I’m looking forward to working with you, to continue strengthening strategic communication, expanding practical cooperation, and jointly bringing China-Sri Lanka relations to a higher level. On behalf of the Government and people of China, I would like to extend our best regards and good wishes to all Sri Lankan friends for the coming New Year 2021.”

The Ambassador recalled the challenges of 2020, especially COVID-19 as a pandemic that “upended the world.”

“China and Sri Lanka, as good neighbours, good friends and good partners, have stood together and extended each other a helping hand in fighting against COVID-19. This has once again proved ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’. We have written a magnificent chapter of fighting together against COVID-19 in the history of China-Sri Lanka relations in particular.”

He also recalled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s gift of Ceylon Tea to China, and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa chanting pirith for Wuhan, and all Sri Lankans from different religions and ethnic groups praying for China.

“When Sri Lanka was struck by the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak, our Government, companies and people immediately provided numerous medical supplies and financial assistance. We are continuing helping our Sri Lankan friends by our best.”