Over 50 Guangxi Zhuong firms at Colombo business forum

• ‘Biz forum great step forward for Guangxi-SL trade’ - Bathiudeen
• Top Guangxi shipping, logistics firms now in Colombo
• More than 50 Guangxi companies with 70-member delegation
• ‘SL and Guangxi were both along ancient Silk Route’ - Secretary Qinghua
• SL-Quangxi trade up 14-fold in just two years

More than 50 companies from China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous province will be at the Guangxi Zhuong investment forum being held in Colombo today.

“Our Beibu Gulf Port is the closest distance to Sri Lanka. Beibu Gulf shipping and logistics firms are here to take part in May 19’s Guangxi Zhuong Investment Forum in Colombo,” said the Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee Peng Qinghua yesterday. Secretary Qinghua, who is in town leading a 70-member delegation for the Guangxi Zhuang Business and Investors Forum in Colombo, which opens today, was addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen during his courtesy call at the ministry.

“Both Sri Lanka and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region enjoy a very important position in the Maritime Silk Road. Guangxi had ties with Sri Lanka 2,000 years ago,” said Secretary Qinghua. 

“Now Guangxi wants to promote this historic connection with Sri Lanka again. Guangxi’s trade with Sri Lanka in 2014, at a mere $ 5.6 million, has increased 14-fold to $ 79 million in 2016 - a very, very short span. We also want to enhance cooperation in tourism, ports and logistics. More than 50 companies from Guangxi Zhuong will be at May 19’s business forum. Forty Lankan students are studying in Guangxi. We invite Sri Lanka to take part in the 14th CAEXPO in Nanning in September this year.”

Responding to Secretary Qinghua, Minister Bathiudeen accepted the invitation to take part in the 14th CAEXPO in Nanning in September, adding: “China-Sri Lanka cooperation is historic. The May 19 business forum is a new and important initiative of the Guangxi Autonomous Region with our Department of Commerce to strengthen the unique neighbourhood and cultural kinship that Guangxi has enjoyed with Sri Lanka. I strongly believe that this forum will be a key milestone in taking China-Sri Lanka relations to greater heights. As the Industry Minister, I also offer the Guangxi Government a special dedicated industry zone for Guangxi industries to set up here and export to South Asian markets using our FTAs with India and Pakistan.”

According to the Central Bank, total bilateral trade between China and Sri Lanka topped $ 4.4 billion in 2016.

Minister Bathiudeen was among the 15 high-profile ASEAN and Chinese leaders joining the CAEXPO 13 held in Nanning city of Guangxi in September 2016. Sri Lanka was the first South Asian country to take part in the CAEXPO series as a Special Guest Country.