Govt. reaffirms commitment to bring relations with China to a higher level

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Liu Zhenmin with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Sri Lanka has reiterated the new Government’s efforts to bring the relations with China to a higher level when the Special Envoy and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Liu Zhenmin called on Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera Friday.

The Chinese Special Envoy met with Minister Samaraweera at the Ministry and discussed wide-ranging matters of mutual interest including Foreign Affairs political, economic, development cooperation and people-to-people contacts, the Ministry said in a release.

Liu conveyed the warm greetings of the Chinese Government to the newly-formed unity Government in Sri Lanka and pledged China’s support and cooperation for further strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries.

While appreciating the support extended by China to Sri Lanka both bilaterally and multilaterally, Foreign Minister Samaraweera referred to the friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and China and reiterated the new Government’s efforts to bring the relations to a further higher level.

During his official visit to Sri Lanka from 7 to 9 October, the Special Envoy also called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The visiting Chinese Minister assured the Sri Lankan President that China will provide every support for the development of the island nation.

Liu revealed that the Chinese Government has made plans to construct a hospital for kidney patients in response to a request made by President Sirisena.

During discussions with the Prime Minister, the Chinese envoy has extended an invitation for the Premier to visit China and he has accepted it.