China ready to ease Sri Lanka’s debt burden

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian speaking to reporters on Wednesday about Sri Lanka’s debt crisis said China is ready to play a constructive role in easing the island nation’s debt burden.

Responding to a media query whether China be willing to be treated on par with other Sri Lankan creditors given the country’s inability to repay debts, Zhao said that China understands the difficulties and challenges Sri Lanka currently faces and is ready to play a constructive role in Sri Lanka’s sustainable economic and social development.

“We feel deeply for the difficulties and challenges Sri Lanka faces and are ready to play a constructive role in the steady economic and social development of Sri Lanka.”

The spokesman further said, as for Sri Lanka’s China-related debts, China supports relevant financial institutions in discussing with Sri Lanka and properly resolving them. “We also stand ready to work with relevant countries and financial institutions to continue to play a constructive role in easing Sri Lanka’s debt burden and realising sustainable development.”

The Spokesman said China believes that Sri Lanka will work on its own to get through the difficulties and to protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investment and financial partners.

“At the same time, we hope and believe that Sri Lanka will work together with the parties concerned and boost its own effort to get through the difficulties, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investment and financing partners and maintain the stability and credibility of its own investment and financing environment,” Zhao said.