Western Province to tie up with Hainan in China in agriculture

Western Province Governor M. Azath S. Salley is with Southern Province Governor Keerthi Tennakone at Boao Forum for Asia held in China’s southern island province of Hainan on Thursday

Western Province Governor M. Azath S. Salley expressed his country’s interests to initiate a tie-up with the Hainan province in China with his western province governorate to exchange experiences in agriculture for mutual benefits.

The governor was speaking at the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held in China’s southern island province of Hainan on Thursday.

Sri Lanka was represented by Salley and Southern Province Governor Keerthi Tennakone at the forum inaugurated by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines and former Philippine president, on Tuesday.

China remains a major engine and a stabiliser for the global growth and has provided inspiration to the world during the past 70 years of development, Salley said, pointing out that the Hainan province is a place well known for its agricultural equipment, products and the relevant expertise. 

“We will not only get highly sophisticated agricultural equipment to boost our agricultural projects from this state but also we will have our agriculture staff trained by Chinese agriculturists in Sri Lanka,” the WP governor said.

“We would like to exchange Chinese experiences in modern technology in agriculture and also we are interested in research and development,” Salley stressed.

“The two provinces have a lot of potentials to develop tourism to attract tourists both ways and let us dwell in these areas too.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2018 that the world needed to choose between progress and retrogression. “Leaders from various communities are expected to give their answers at the AC 2019,” Li said.

Dubbed the ‘Asian Davos’, the BFA has been held in the town of Boao, Hainan Province since 2001. It attracts leaders from government, business and academic institutions throughout Asia and beyond, who come together to share their thoughts on the most pressing issues in the region and the world at large.