China’s top global roaming ambassador says Sri Lanka is ready to take off

Wednesday, 16 November 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Xi Jinping’s top-most international roaming ambassador said Sri Lanka’s infrastructure facilities, human resources and other required facilities are in place and the country is all set to take off.

President of the Chinese Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Ambassador Lin Songtiyan said now what is needed to attract foreign investments is to enact necessary legal reforms.

Ambassador Songtiyan, who called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena together with the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo on Monday (14), said Hambanthota, Trincomalee and other economic zones as well as the Colombo Port City could attract global investors if necessary reforms are enacted and investor-friendly atmosphere is quickly established.

The country has all the ingredients such as a strategic location in the centre of Indian Ocean, highways, ports and also skilled youth resources needed for leap forward in industrial and agricultural development. The Prime Minister assured the Chinese delegation that the top priority of the government is to establish necessary legislations to ensure speedy clearance of investment proposals submitted by foreign partners. He said Sri Lanka seeks investments in new areas such as solar power, wind power and other alternative energy resources.

Ambassador Songtiyan said the solar power and wind power should be given top priority as new energy sources are essential to attract foreign investments.

“Once these are in place you can attract big investors not only from China but also from USA, Europe, India and Japan,” he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Gunawardena’s virtual address to the International Conference on Hybrid Rice Varieties held in China earlier this week, Ambassador Songtiyan said China is ready to set up a pilot project for hybrid rice cultivation in Sri Lanka.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayaka and senior Chinese foreign ministry officials were present on this occasion.