Sino-Sri Lanka ‘shared history now revived’ with Colombo Lotus Tower, says Prof. Patrick Mendis

Saturday, 1 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Sirisena meeting with President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) and other leaders in Beijing – CDAC Photo

Prof. Patrick Mendis at the Yenching Academy of Peking University

attending the Conference – CDAC Photo

BEIJING, China: The week-long Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilisations (CDAC) in Beijing attracted more than 2,000 delegates from 47 Asian and other countries to enhance the ‘exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilisations and a community with a shared future’, said Professor Patrick Mendis in the CDAC official webpage.

Attending the CDAC conference, distinguished visiting Professor Patrick Mendis at the Yenching Academy of Peking University highlighted: “The revival of Sino-Sri Lankan cultural, Buddhist, and diplomatic exchanges that harkened back to over two millennia is now symbolised by the $ 101 million Beijing-constructed Colombo Lotus Tower.” The Sri Lankan-born American diplomat is an expert on Sino-American relations and Asian-Pacific diplomatic history.

With the tallest and most sophisticated telecommunication tower in the heart of Colombo, Sri Lanka has now become an important symbol of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Addressing the opening ceremony, President Xi Jinping reassured Asian and the Pacific nations that China’s re-emergence will not threaten the existing world order dominated by the West, but Beijing has sought to promote the country’s soft power through cultural exchanges and inspired to provide a peaceful leadership to overhaul global governance with Asian experience and wisdom. Several other dignitaries also spoke at the conference.

Addressing the delegates, President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka said that the China-initiated CDAC for the Asian region and the world is significant, but it is more important for Sri Lanka given its ancient and evolving bilateral relationship for mutual benefits.

The Xinhua News Agency reported that President Xi condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. China is ready to support Sri Lanka for combating terrorism and enhancing its counterterrorism and capacity-building to safeguard national security and stability, said President Xi.

The Chinese President expressed his hope that Sri Lanka would make good use of the CDAC as a platform to showcase its time-honoured ancient Buddhist civilisation and its diversified cultures.

President Sirisena assured the Chinese leader that Sri Lanka would continue to enhance BRI cooperation and deepen development and security arrangements.