Shanghai Municipal Government meets with Pathfinder Foundation

Delegation meeting with Pathfinder Foundation and discussion at Purasarana building at Colombo

A six-member delegation from Shanghai Municipal Government met with the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) to discuss how Shanghai and South and East Asian countries cooperate under the framework of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) of China and to evaluate how Shanghai enterprises are performing in the region including Sri Lanka. 

The two sides frank and cordial exchange of views and opinions on Sri Lanka and China/Shanghai’s cooperation within the framework of the BRI; the progress made and challenges met in relation to BRI cooperation; participation of Shanghai enterprises in Sri Lanka under the BRI and suggestions on how to strengthen cooperation between Sri Lanka and China/Shanghai. 

The delegation from Shanghai Municipal Government was led by Song Bin – Deputy Director General of the Shanghai Municipal Finance Bureau; Shen Hang Jun – Deputy Director, Division of Asset Management of the Shanghai Municipal Finance Bureau; Yang Jie – Director, Division of Economic Development, Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai  Municipal People’s Government; Wang  Zhenzhen – Principal Staff; Division of Economic Development, Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Huang Chaoming – Principal Staff, Division of Planning of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and Zha Xiaogang – Coordinator, Trade and Investment Program, Shanghai Institute for International Studies. 

The seniority of the Shanghai Municipal Government team was indicative of the importance attached by Shanghai to cooperation with South and East Asian countries. 

The Pathfinder Foundation team was led by Bernard Goonetilleke – Chairman; Luxman Siriwardena – Executive Director and Director, China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre; Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage – Director, Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives (PF); Ameera Arooz – Program Manager and Sarah Hettiarchchi – Project Executive. During the discussion Pathfinder Foundation, while appreciating the visit of the Shanghai Municipal Government delegation, emphasised on the need for follow-up and practical action. Such result oriented approach only would lead to mutual trust and win-win situation.

Among the specific projects and programs that were discussed were establishment of technical training facilities to inculcate skills for Sri Lankan youth, setting up of Chinese higher educational institute(s) and conducting joint studies to ascertain opportunities for Shanghai enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka. 

Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), which organised the visit to Sri Lanka, has built a strong relationship with the Pathfinder Foundation in the past three years. SIIS and PF have conducted four joint conferences/roundtables in the past several years, which have alternately been held in Shanghai and Colombo.