PM receives warm welcome from Chinese Premier

China’s Premier Li Keqiang and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (R) review honour guards during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, April 7, 2016. REUTERS

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday welcomed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a glittering State ceremony in Beijing and called for increased cooperation between the two countries.

Wickremesinghe accompanied by a business delegation arrived in China Wednesday on a four-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart following the welcoming ceremony, Premier Li called for expanding the pragmatic cooperation with Sri Lanka and pushing the bilateral relations to a new stage, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. 

Li said that China’s friendship with Sri Lanka has a long tradition, and the two countries have maintained a good relationship under the sophisticated international situation since the setting up of diplomatic relations nearly 60 years ago.

“Long-time harmony is the wish of the two countries, and also the result of the efforts from people in all circles,” Premier Li said.

He said China is glad to strengthen the exchange with high-level officials of Sri Lanka, deepen political trust and closely coordinate the cooperation between the two countries in regional and international affairs.

Premier Li said increasing the level of cooperation will bring benefits to citizens of both countries.

“China welcomes the recommencement of the Colombo port construction and is willing to join hands with Sri Lanka to steadily expand the construction of the project,” the Premier said.

The Chinese premier expressed his wishes that both sides will speed up the negotiation of the second phase of the  Hambantota port project, helping Sri Lanka to be an important transfer hub in international logistics.

“Both parties should strive to finish the negotiation of the China-Sri Lanka free trade agreement by the end of the year. China will develop industrial capacity cooperation with Sri Lanka for its plan to build an economic zone and help speed up the construction of infrastructure as well as its industrialisation process,” said the Premier.

The Chinese government encourages domestic enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka’s construction of port industrial parks, special economic zones and its manufacturing industry. The Premier said he wishes the move would be supported by the Sri Lanka government and expressed his hope that it would expand mutual communication in finance, technology, culture, and people-to-people exchange.

During the visit, the Sri Lankan Premier will also hold high level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of The National People’s Congress Zhang Dejiang. The discussions are expected to help advance relations between the two countries to a higher level, according to the Prime Minister’s office.

In a gesture that will renew the strong and historic ties between the United National Party and the Chinese Communist Party, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also held talks with the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao.

The Premier invited Song Tao to attend the UNP’s 70th anniversary celebrations to be held in September as a special guest.

Wickremesinghe also held discussions with the President of The Export-Import Bank of China Liu Liange Liange, describing the discussions as “productive.”

A group of business representatives from Sri Lanka accompanying the Prime Minister will hold discussions with leading Chinese entrepreneurs, with a view to enhancing Chinese investments in Sri Lanka.

Undertaken with a view of strengthening the relations between China and Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s visit is expected to promote mechanisms of cooperation between the two countries in the spheres of economic affairs, investment and technology. It is also expected to bolster cooperation in science, sports, tourism development, financial services and water resources management along with the initiation of mobile clinics for kidney patients. During this visit, it is expected that many multilateral agreements will be entered into between the two countries.