More Chinese help for SL’s development

Tuesday, 10 September 2013 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

China will further assist Sri Lanka to raise people’s living standards by increasing job opportunities with the launch of various industry-related programs and providing help to develop the tourism industry. China’s Senior Communist Party Leader Liu Yunshan gave this assurance to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa when they met at the Ministry yesterday. Liu arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit in response to an invitation President Mahinda Rajapaksa extended to him during the latter’s tour of China in May this year. Yunshan is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Community of China and ranks in the fifth position among the seven members of the committee, which is the top decision making body in China. His position is on par with that of a deputy prime minister and his main areas of responsibility include culture, tourism and media. His visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and will also cover areas of tourism development, media and culture. Expressing his appreciation of Sri Lanka’s political environment and economic development, the Chinese leader assured that more Chinese investors would be arriving in Sri Lanka in the coming months. He also said that the island’s political stability had helped improve investment and trade. Minister Basil Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to the Chinese people and Government for the assistance China has given for Sri Lanka’s development. He added that the friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries and continuous Chinese assistance to Sri Lanka were a source of strength to the island’s people and the Government.

Yunshan said that China’s CCTV Channel had already produced a number of television programs to introduce Sri Lanka to the Chinese people. This would attract more Chinese tourists eager to enjoy the island’s natural beauty and thereby help develop the country’s tourism sector. He welcomed the steps Sri Lanka is taking to popularise its nature resources, wildlife, rain forests, spices and beaches throughout the world. Minister Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka hopes to attract 100,000 Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka by 2015. He also briefed the Chinese visitor on the successes of the Divi Neguma, Gama Neguma and Pura Neguma programs. Chinese Vice Ministers Chen Fengxiang, Wang Ercheng, Sun Zhijun, Jiang Jinquan and China’s Ambassador in Sri Lanka Wu Jianghao, Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha, Housing and Construction Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Parliamentarians Thilanga Sumathipala and Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama, Mass Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath and Tourism Development Authority Chairman Bashwara Gunaratne were among the others who attended the discussion.