Vice Minister of Communist Party of China visits Pathfinder Foundation

Communist Party of China (CPC) Vice Minister (International Department) Guo Yezhou who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka visited Pathfinder Foundation (PF) on Friday, 3 August. He was welcomed by Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda and senior members of the Foundation. 

During the hour-long meeting, both sides discussed how best to strengthen and further develop relations between the two countries as well as institutions in both countries that are working to promote better understanding and cooperation. Vice Minister Guo’s visit to PF was in continuation of the relationship the Foundation had established with CPC some time ago and recognition of the support PF has given to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since inauguration of the project by the Chinese President in late 2013. 

Vice Minister Guo said he undertook the visit to Sri Lanka for the purpose of improving relations with the leading political parties in the country and he was happy to visit the Pathfinder Foundation, which is doing much to promote relations with China. Speaking of large development projects undertaken by China in Sri Lanka, he opined that the proposed Hambantota Industrial Park would develop the region economically. Noting that the Centre for Law of the Sea of PF is focusing on important issues, he said that he would do his best to find a suitable Chinese partner to work with the Centre. He assured that China would continue to work with PF, which would help both countries in many ways. 

The Founder of PF highlighted that Pathfinder had been in operation over a period of 10 years and during that period it had focused on several areas viz. economic reform, development of bilateral relations with countries of importance to Sri Lanka including China, India, the USA, etc., promoting people-to-people relations with these and other countries, economic cooperation, security and strategic issues, etc. He provided information on China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre (CSLCSC), Centre for India-Sri Lanka Initiatives (CILI) and the Centre for Law of the Sea functioning under the Foundation.

Highlighting the unique arrangement made by PF to house two centres focusing on furthering relations with China and India under one roof, Moragoda stated that the Chinese side has already stationed Dr. Zhao Yin from the South West University of Political Science and Law to function as Associate Director of CSLCSC. A similar arrangement is being worked out with India, to attach an Associate Director to CILI. 

Speaking on the vast network of think-tanks and educational institutions with which PF has established formal and working relationships, Moragoda said that among such Chinese institutions are, the Chinese People’s Association of Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD), Boao Forum (BF), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), China Center for Contemporary World Studies, Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies of the Yunan University of Finance and Economics (RIIO), Faculty of Social Development and Western China Development Studies of Sichuan University, South West University of Political Science and Law (SWUPSL), China Academy of West Region Development of Zhejiang University (CAWD), etc.

In addition, PF recently received scholars from such academic institutions as Tsinghua University. Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, Director of CILI and CLS of Pathfinder Foundation visits Sichuan University, one of the largest and oldest universities in China based in Chengdu at regular intervals to conduct lectures. Most recently, the Pathfinder Foundation initiated a visit by Renmin University academics and conducted a Roundtable conference on Greening Belt and Road Initiative, jointly with the University of Peradeniya. This event was attended by Sri Lanka’s prominent experts on the subject.  

Another major step taken by the PF to disseminate information on China is to publish selected news items of interest to the Sri Lankan public, released by Xinhua News Agency on a fortnightly basis. 

Vice Minister Guo appreciated the role played by Pathfinder Foundation to promote relations and provide better understanding about China in Sri Lanka and said that Chinese authorities are aware of the role played by Pathfinder Foundation to further develop the excellent relations between the two countries. 

Chinese delegates who accompanied Vice Minister Guo Yezhou were Ma Xuesong (Deputy DG Asian Bureau), Hu Xiaodong (Dy. Director), Shi Meiqi, Chen Jian and He He. Luo Chong, Chief of Political Section and Liang Zhijun Second Secretary of the Chinese Embassy participated in the meeting.

The PF delegation who took part in the discussion with Founder of PF Moragoda were Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman PF; Luxman Siriwardena, Executive Director of PF and Director of CSLCSC; Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, Director, CILI and CLS, Dr. Zhao Yin, Associate Director of CSLCSC, Ameera Arooz, Project Manager PF; Yasalani Amarasekera, Asst. Project Manager PF and K. Balasundaram, CEO of MMBL group of companies.