PM visits Port of Chongqing and container terminal on study tour to China

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is on a five-day official visit to China, engaged in an inspection tour of the Port of Chongqing and its container terminal.

According to a statement by the Premier, the Chongqing Relationship Generating Bureau of China is carrying out a study on bilateral enterprises entered into with Singapore and his visit aimed at studying the bilateral enterprises.

The Director General of the Chongqing Relationship Generating Bureau has said the Bureau was fully prepared to ensure that Sri Lanka would reap maximum benefits and opportunities through the inter-relationship between Singapore and Chongqing city.

Furthermore, the Director General has stated that they were conducting studies on the assistance available through the major ports and airports in Sri Lanka.

He added that the Chongqing Relationship Generating Bureau and Chongqing Municipality have great aspirations that Sri Lanka will be able to achieve great economic success and be an economic giant. The official has expressed his willingness to share his experiences in the matter.

The port of Chongqing, which borders the Yangtze River, is an inland port and commenced operations in 2013. The container terminal at the port comprises 16 jetties and has the capacity of handling over 5,000 tons of cargo at once.

The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and including Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Patali Champika Ranawaka is visiting the Chongqing city in Southwest China to observe projects that are important for economic development in Sri Lanka.

During the observation tour, the Sri Lankan delegation had focused its attention on the possibility of setting up internal ports such as the Port of Chongqing in order to further promote Sri Lanka as a shipping and logistics hub in South Asia, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.