The Sri Lanka-China relationship has been elevated from one of friendship to one of “strategic cooperation,” said Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa in China’s Shaanxi Province yesterday.
At the end of what he called “very successful bilateral talks and visit,” Vice President Yuanchao said China will continue to strengthen relations with Sri Lanka and expand cooperation into new sectors in what he described as an equal partnership. President Rajapaksa thanked China for its support in Sri Lanka’s development, and expressed gratitude for backing the country at various international and regional fora, demonstrating commitment to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
The President said Sri Lanka is inspired by China’s rapid economic development and eco-friendly economic policies and assured the Chinese Vice President that Sri Lanka remains committed to the “one China policy” that it has maintained for years.
While urging China to further open up the Chinese market to Sri Lankan products, President Rajapaksa requested Vice President Yuanchao to look into lowering the price of Sri Lankan tea in the Chinese market.
The President observed that the prices appear to be high and that lower prices could make the product more accessible to more Chinese consumers.
With regard to tourism promotion, Vice President Yuanchao promised to encourage Chinese tourists to visit Sri Lanka. Referring to the South Asian nation as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” he said that during the war, tourists were scared to visit Sri Lanka,
but that is not the case anymore since terrorism was eradicated under the strong leadership of President Rajapaksa.
While President Rajapaksa renewed his invitation to the Chinese leadership to visit Sri Lanka, Vice President Yuanchao also invited Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa to lead a youth delegation to China.
Others present at the discussion were External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, External Affairs Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena, Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Douglas Devananda, Parliamentarian A H M Azwer, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Chief-of-Staff Gamini Senerath and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in China Ranjith Uyangoda were also present.
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