Chinese goodwill delegation meets with Pathfinder Foundation

Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda, Pathfinder Foundation Chairperson Bernard Goonetilleke, Nihal Rodrigo SLFS (Retd.), PF Executive Director Lakshman Siriwardena and PF Project Manager Ameera Arooz

Chinese Special Envoy of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sun Guoxiang meets with Pathfinder Foundation

On Wednesday 2 March, a Chinese goodwill delegation currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, held discussions with the China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Study Centre (CSLCSC) functioning under the Pathfinder Foundation. The primary purpose of the visit was to discuss how to further broaden and deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries and renew contacts China had built with Sri Lanka over the past several decades.

The delegation was led by Special Envoy of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sun Guoxiang, who was a former ambassador of China to Sri Lanka and Maldives. The delegation included another former Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jiang Qinzheng and Ven. Ming Sheng Thera, Vice Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China. During the three-day-visit, the Chinese delegation plans to meet with political and religious leaders, who had developed long standing relations with China over a period of time.

Speaking on the special nature of relations between Beijing and Colombo, Amb. Sun appreciated the support Sri Lanka had given China since early 1950s with the signing of the Rubber-Rice Agreement and emphasised that both countries should continue the spirit generated by that historic relationship. He expressed confidence that both countries would take steps to move the relationship to a new level.

Commenting on the special relationship that evolved over the past several decades, Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda highlighted the continuous support Sri Lanka received from China, over the years. He pointed out that China, a global economic power, is poised to reach number one position as a source country for tourism and foreign investment and assured support of CSLCSC in promoting Chinese investment in Sri Lanka.

Of late, Sri Lankans have witnessed oscillation of traditionally cordial bilateral relations between the two countries. The peak of the relations was the visit of President Xi Jinping’s to Sri Lanka in September 2014. That visit resulted in signing as many as 27 key agreements and MOUs covering broad areas of cooperation and development work. Both countries expect increased cooperation with and investment from China following the official visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to China last year and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s planned visit later this year.