China assures Sri Lanka strong support to safeguard national independence

Wednesday, 12 February 2014 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Beijing: China and Sri Lanka agreed yesterday to boost cooperation and elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Co-operative Partnership.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris, who is visiting Beijing on a four-day official visit, that China will extend Sri Lanka strong support in international to defend the country’s independence. The Chinese Minister told his Sri Lankan counterpart that China opposes other countries’ interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka under the pretext of human rights issues and expressed support for Sri Lanka’s efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The principal focus of the discussion was the elevation of the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a Strategic Co-operative Partnership, covering four main areas - political cooperation, defence and security, economic relations, and cultural matters. They considered practical arrangements in each of these areas and modalities to expedite progress in each sector. Prof. Peiris has apprised the Chinese Minister of Sri Lanka’s situation and the significant progress made by the country since the cessation of hostilities. Minister Wang has assured Professor Peiris of the strong support which China will continue to extend to Sri Lanka in respect of these issues in all international fora. They agreed on mechanisms to promote closer dialogue and collaboration between the two countries with regard to political issues. Sri Lankan Minister also met with the Chinese Vice Premier Li Yuanchao and discussed the growing cooperation between the two countries. Calling on both countries strengthen their strategic cooperation partnership, the Chinese Vice said China-Sri Lanka relations had entered a new stage of development after the two heads of state announced an upgrade of relations to strategic cooperation partnership last year. He expressed hope that the two sides would facilitate pragmatic cooperation in accordance with the countries’ national development strategies and offer stronger support and reliable friendship to each other. Prof. Peiris said Sri Lanka hopes to boost high-level visits and all-round cooperation with China and push forward the bilateral partnership. Sri Lankan Minister’s visit to China comes ahead of the United States’ initiative to table a third resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council next month.

China backs Sri Lanka over US Rights complaint

BEIJING, (Reuters): China’s Foreign Minister on Tuesday offered support for Sri Lanka after the United States said it would table a UN resolution against Colombo over its human rights record. “China opposes some countries’ interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka under the pretext of human rights issues,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Sri Lankan counterpart G.L. Peiris in Beijing. China backs the Sri Lankan Government in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wang said, according to China’s Foreign Ministry. “We believe in the Sri Lankan people’s wisdom and capacity to handle their own affairs,” Wang added. Sri Lanka this month rejected US criticism of its human rights record as “grossly disproportionate”, after a senior US official said Washington would table a UN resolution against the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government, which finally crushed a 26-year rebellion by ethnic minority Tamil separatists in 2009, has rejected calls for an international inquiry into atrocities during the civil war. China has increasingly tight ties with Sri Lanka, funding airports, roads, railways and ports, which has unsettled India, traditionally Sri Lanka’s closest economic partner. The island of 21 million people just off India’s southern tip has become a front in the competition between the Asian giants China and India.

Chinese delegation visits coal power plant

A Chinese delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Commercial Affairs in China Shang Sheng Wong has made an observation visit to Sri Lanka’s ailing Norochcholai Coal Power Plant. The delegation had held discussions with the Sri Lankan Minister of Power and energy Pavithra Wanniarachchi and officials of the state’s power supplier, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The Deputy Chinese Minister has told the Minister that the Chinese authorities are highly concerned by the reports of frequent failures at the China-built power plant. He has assured the Minister that the Chinese Government and the China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) which built the plant will take necessary actions to repair the plant. A special delegation headed by the Chairman of the CMEC has recently conducted a survey on the limitations of the plant. Minister Wanniarachchi has commended the Chinese Government for providing the power plant to Sri Lanka at concessionary conditions. The Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board W.B. Ganegala meanwhile, has said that the second phase of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant has been connected to the national grid at testing level. He has assured that there will be no power crisis, as the country’s power plants have the capacity to generate 3,300 megawatts daily while the daily power consumption is about 2,000 megawatts.