Maithri says committed to development of strategic partnership with China

Monday, 19 January 2015 00:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s new Government will continue to develop the strategic partnership with China and implement the outcomes reached during Chinese President Xi Jinpinto the island last year. President Maithripala Sirisena has given this assurance when the Chinese Ambassador to Colombo Wu Jianghao called on the President last week at the President’s House. President Sirisena thanked the Chinese President for his congratulatory message and said President Xi’s State visit to Sri Lanka last September was very successful.

Sirisena noted that Sri Lanka has a long history of friendly relations with China and will continue to push for enhancing the relationship. “The new Government, together with China, will implement the outcomes of this state visit on the existing basis, strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and push forward the development of Sri Lanka-China relations,” the Chinese Embassy quoting the Sri Lankan President said in a statement. Ambassador Wu, congratulating the President on his victory, spoke highly of the relationship between the two countries and the important contributions made over the years to promote bilateral ties. Wu said the two countries were traditional friendly neighbours, and Sri Lanka was a proven sincere partner. China has always attached great importance to bilateral ties and will continue to promote the development of China-Sri Lanka strategic partnership. During his visit to Sri Lanka last year, President Xi launched the $ 1.5 billion Colombo Port City Project to build a modern city on land reclaimed from the sea. However, the new Government Friday said it will review the project since under the deal signed with the China Communication Construction Company, the company is getting land on a freehold basis in a high security zone. The proposed city will be built on 233 hectares (583 acres) of land reclaimed from the sea between the Colombo South Port and the Galle Face Green and according to a Reuters report 20 hectares of land will be given to the Chinese firm on an outright basis. “You cannot have land given on a freehold basis to another country in a high security zone. The project has to be completely looked at,” Reuters said quoting Sri Lanka’s new Investment Promotion Minister Kabeer Hashim. Sri Lanka’s neighbour India has also raised security concerns over the project as a large portion of cargoes bound for India are transhipped through Colombo Port.