PM meets Malaysia, Myanmar leaders in Beijing

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday met with several world leaders on the sidelines of China’s Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and held bilateral discussions.

Meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the Premier discussed the background to create a free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

During the meeting both leaders reached a consensus to promptly take initial action regarding a FTA between the two countries.

The Malaysian Prime Minister has said his Government would provide support to improve the public service management capabilities of Sri Lanka’s state sector and to train more state sector workers of Sri Lanka under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program.

The two leaders exchanged ideas on reaping benefits from the ‘One Belt-One Road’ initiative and encouraging Malaysian investors to invest more in Sri Lanka in order to strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister also met with Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi and discussed strengthening future relations based on the historic relations shared between the two countries.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar’s state leader pointed out that her country’s biggest challenge was to establish a strong democratic governing system and requested Sri Lanka to provide assistance and expertise in ensuring democratic governance and strengthening Parliament in Myanmar.

The Premier assured the Myanmar leader that Sri Lanka was ready to extend the utmost support to Myanmar’s democratic Government and promised to take measures for a parliamentary delegation of Sri Lanka to visit Myanmar in this regard.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is visiting Beijing to attend China’s Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on 14 and 15 May.