China holds talks with Sri Lanka on future projects

Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva with Chinese Ambassador Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang

China and Sri Lanka held talks yesterday on future investments and projects in the country.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said that he met Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang and had a long and fruitful discussion on economic diplomacy between the two countries.

 “We discussed the multiple projects and investments that will soon be launched and about others in the pipeline. It was a frank exchange of views on how best we should align our interests to realise our dreams for our people,” the Deputy Minister said.

 He said that for Sri Lanka to be a prosperous country, it needs to have a strong integrated economy serving a global marketplace.

“In the end, it’s about economics. It’s about the future of our children. It’s about a prosperous country with equal rights. The only way to get there is a strong integrated economy serving a global marketplace. That’s what we are attempting to do,” he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who was in Sri Lanka recently had said that China is willing to help Sri Lanka to realise its national development vision and become the future shipping, logistics and financial center in the Indian Ocean.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi had said that during the visit both sides agreed to inherit the traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. (Colombo Gazette)