SL President warmly welcomed in Beijing

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, commencing a four-day state visit, arrived in China last morning (26 May). The President and First Lady Shiranthi Wikaramasinghe Rajapaksa were warmly received at the Beijing Capital International Airport by China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin along with Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in China Ranjith Uyangoda.

Rajapaksa will take part in a number of bilateral meetings in Beijing in the coming days, and travel to Shaanxi Province to attend the opening ceremony of the 2013 International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) special conference under the theme ‘Promote green development and build a beautiful Asia.’ The President is also expected to attend the inaugural ceremonies of the Global Service Forum, Beijing Summit. The Sri Lankan delegation accompanying the President includes Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Monitoring MP for the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena, Ministers; Wimal Weerawansa and Douglas Devananda, Parliamentarians; A.H.M. Azwer and Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Chief-of-Staff Gamini Senerath.

Pic by Sudath Silva