Joint cooperation with China under BRI boosts Sri Lanka’s development take-off: Karu

Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan last week called upon Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to exchange views on the economic globalisation and joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Cheng reaffirmed that China firmly upholds economic globalisation, which brings great benefits to the whole world, including China and Sri Lanka. The Chinese side is committed to promote BRI with relevant countries through joint consultation, contribution and shared benefits, so as to build a community of shared future for mankind.

Ambassador Cheng reiterated that China attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka, and stands ready to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, so as to actively push forward the practical cooperation under the framework of BRI, and bring tangible benefits to the two countries and peoples. With these joint efforts, the Colombo Financial City (or Port City) Project, the Hambantota Port and Industrial Park as well as the economic corridors connecting Colombo to Hambantota and Kandy would be progressing rapidly.

Ambassador Cheng denied any military purpose for China to conduct friendly and pragmatic cooperation with Sri Lanka, stating that certain external forces had provoked unfounded speculation on the joint mega-projects to disrupt cooperation and make mischief between China and Sri Lanka for their own interests.

Speaker Jayasuriya thanked China for its long-term support to Sri Lanka, especially after the latter’s civil war, and highlighted that President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiatives and the idea of building a community of shared future for mankind have been written into the United Nations documents several times. He added: “Sri Lanka always considers BRI a great opportunity for its development and gives its strong support to BRI. We are ready to work with Chinese friends to strengthen bilateral cooperation.”

Speaker Jayasuriya stressed that all sectors of the society are fully aware of Hambantota Port as a commercial project instead of a so-called ‘militarisation’ by the rumours and hype. “There are certain extremists in all countries, and those making unfounded speculations may have their own ulterior motives. Sri Lanka attaches great importance to mega-projects cooperation with China, especially the projects of Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City. The Sri Lankan Parliament is willing to coordinate within its authority and promote the implementation of the projects so as to facilitate Sri Lanka’s development taking-off and bring real benefits to the two peoples.”