Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Beijing on Wednesday, on relations between their two countries.
At the talks, Xi pointed out that China and Sri Lanka have a long-standing friendship. Over the past 68 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka, the two countries' relationship has always maintained healthy and stable development, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between different countries.
Through joint efforts, the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership, based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship, has continuously deepened. The high-quality cooperation between the two countries in joint construction of the Belt and Road and their exchange and cooperation in various other fields have yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries, Xi noted.
The Chinese president said that China-Sri Lanka relations now face a historic opportunity to carry forward the past and open up new prospects. Both sides should strategically grasp and advance their relationship, jointly building a China-Sri Lanka community of a shared future, he said. Xi emphasized that China has always regarded Sri Lanka as an important partner in its neighborhood diplomacy and will continue to support Sri Lanka in maintaining its national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. China also supports Sri Lanka in independently exploring a development path that suits its own national conditions.
China is willing to deepen political mutual trust with Sri Lanka, exchange governance and statecraft experiences, and enhance dialogue and communication between the two countries' respective departments, Xi said.
As China further deepens reform and advances Chinese modernization, new opportunities for Sri Lanka's development will emerge. China will actively support Sri Lanka in focusing on economic construction and advancing high-quality cooperation in the building of the Belt and Road, as well as high-quality cooperation in areas such as modern agriculture, the digital economy, and the marine economy, creating new prospects of cooperation, according to Xi.
Both sides should strengthen cultural exchanges between their peoples, Xi said. China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral institutions like the United Nations, jointly addressing major issues affecting human development, such as climate change. China is committed to fostering unity and self-strengthening among Global South countries and contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity, he added.
Noting that China has always been a reliable friend and partner to Sri Lanka, Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka attaches great importance to its relationship with China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle.
He expressed gratitude for China's valuable support in safeguarding Sri Lanka's independence, sovereignty, and legitimate rights.
Sri Lanka is committed to jointly building the Belt and Road and enhancing regional connectivity, said the Sri Lankan president. He said Sri Lanka welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country, and expressed the willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, finance, poverty reduction, digital transformation, tourism, marine affairs, and personnel training.
China is an important leader among Global South countries and plays a constructive role in international affairs. Sri Lanka is willing to continue strengthening coordination and mutual support with China in multilateral forums to safeguard their common interests, said Dissanayake. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents, including the plan for cooperation in joint construction of the Belt and Road, as well as agreements on Sri Lanka's export of agricultural products to China, social welfare, and media and broadcasting.
Xi also held a welcome banquet for Dissanayake at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday evening.
Chinese, Sri Lankan presidents hold talks on relations
Chinese, Sri Lankan presidents hold talks on relations
Chinese, Sri Lankan presidents hold talks on relations
