In separate meetings with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi pledged to take Sino-Lanka ties to a new level.
The talks were held in Colombo at the Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees respectively, further strengthening the 65 years of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka.
Recalling the profound friendship between the two countries, Minister Wang Yi told President Rajapaksa that he was pleased to be back in Sri Lanka, adding that China would always support Sri Lanka as a close friend.
Warmly welcoming the Chinese Foreign Minister, President Rajapaksa recalled the historic close ties between the two countries. The President extended his sincere gratitude on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and its people to the Chinese Foreign Minister for the material and financial assistance received from China in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President also expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Government for its continued support in providing Sinopharm vaccines to Sri Lanka in order to successfully implement the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The President requested Minister Yi to assist in attracting Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka under the bio-bubble concept.
The President pointed out that it would be a great relief to the country if attention could be paid to restructuring the debt repayments as a solution to the economic crisis that has arisen in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The President also said that if a concessional trade credit scheme could be initiated for imports from China, it would enable the local industries to operate smoothly.
Minister Wang Yi extended an invitation to the President to visit China and expressed confidence that the visit would take place in the near future.
Meanwhile, during his meeting with Prime Minister Rajapaksa, Minister Yi instructed the Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong to work closely with the Foreign Ministry to facilitate the return of Sri Lankan medical students studying in China.
This was made following a special request by Prime Minister Rajapaksa on behalf of Sri Lankan medical students waiting to return to China to complete their studies.
Currently, around 1,200 medical students, including 400 final-year students, who were studying at Chinese medical institutions, are waiting to return to China to complete their studies. They have been unable to return due to restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic.
In response to the Prime Minister’s special request, Foreign Minister Yi assured that Sri Lankan students will be given highest priority, the Prime Minister’s media division said.
During the bilateral discussions between the two delegations, a host of other matters were also discussed, including further support for the vaccine programme, attracting investments to the Port City and the Hambantota Industrial Zone, increasing Sri Lankan exports to China and enhancing cultural cooperation, especially in the area of Buddhist ties.
Following the discussions, the delegations signed several agreements. They are; Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, Letter of Exchange on the Project of Subsidized Housing for Low Income Category in Colombo, Handover Certificate of the Technical Cooperation Project for the BMICH and Handover Certificate of the Technical Cooperation Project for Kidney Disease Mobile Screening Ambulance Vehicles.
Foreign Minister Yi was on a one-day visit to Sri Lanka to launch the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of Sri Lanka-China bilateral relations. Last year the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a commemorative coin to mark the 65th anniversary as well as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. A set of the coins were gifted to the visiting Foreign Minister by the Prime Minister. Conveying best wishes from the President and Premier of China to Prime Minister Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Yi said, “China will continue to do its best to provide all the necessary help and support [to Sri Lanka].”
Prime Minister Rajapaksa said: “This year is an important year for our two countries. It marks the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and 70 years of signing the Rubber-Rice Pact. I also congratulate the Communist Party of China on its 100th anniversary. As you know, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a commemorative coin to mark these important milestones”.
“I want to thank the Government and the friendly people of China for the generous support towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The consistent supply of the Sinopharm vaccines made a significant contribution to our successful vaccine programme”.
“Sri Lanka’s economy was also greatly impacted by the pandemic. We appreciate China’s assistance towards economic revival and financial stability. There is still a long way to go in establishing normality, but with support from friendly countries like China, we will be able to overcome these challenges soon. I look forward to continuing working closely with you and the Government of China in addressing common challenges” he said. The Chinese delegation included the Chinese Ambassador, Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming, Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao and the Vice Chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency Zhang Maoyu. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage were also present at the bilateral talks between President Rajapaksa and the visiting Chinese Minister.
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