Yunnan plans closer economic ties with Lanka

Sri Lanka welcomes investment in tourism among other areas, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka.

Sri Lanka had recently embarked on a new chapter in its history and after the defeat of terrorism, Sri Lanka was now poised to recover the lost grounds, economically, for nearly three decades, the Prime Minister told a Chinese Trade and Investment Mission when they called on him.

He explained that rebuilding the entire country, not only the affected provinces and development was a bigger challenge faced by the country now. He said tourism was one area which would make a quick recovery and said Sri Lanka welcomed investment in tourism among other areas.

Vice Governor of the Yunnan Province Geo Feng thanked the Prime Minister for receiving them and making excellent arrangements for their stay in Sri Lanka. He explained to the Prime Minister that of all Provinces of China, Yunnan was closest to Sri Lanka both geographically and culturally and therefore they would like to promote closer economic links with Sri Lanka.He was of the view that the Prime Minister's visit last year opened a new chapter in relations between his Province and Sri Lanka.

He said that it was necessary to have more visits of his nature on both directions to promote relations and noted that a direct air link between Yunnan and Sri Lanka would help the process. He invited the Prime Minister to visit Yunnan Province again.

The Chinese trade and investment mission led by the Deputy Governor of Yunnan Province in Western China Geo Feng is in Sri Lanka at the invitation of Prime Minister Wickramanayaka. The invitation was extended to the Governor of the Province when the Prime Minister visited Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province November last year. The delegation consists of officials from Yunnan Provincial Governments and several businessmen. The delegation is expected to explore opportunities for trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the Yunnan Province.

The Prime Minister extending a warm welcome to the delegation and thanked them for accepting his invitation to visit Sri Lanka with a business delegation. He said he was happy to visit Yunnan Province last year and was able to see for himself the opportunities available for developing closer relations between Sri Lanka and Yunnan Province as there were many similarities. He said that Sri Lanka remained grateful to China for assistance extended both politically and in international forums when Sri Lanka faced difficulties.

He was happy to welcome the delegation from China as genuine friends and as personal friends in view of personal contacts established by him during his visit to the Province.

He recalled that he visited China on three occasions during which he experienced the goodwill and friendship of the Chinese people towards Sri Lanka. He also recalled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had also visited China three times and had meetings with Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao.