Vice President, Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Long Guoqiang opened the new office of Pathfinder Foundation’s ‘China-Sri Lanka Cooperation studies Centre’ (CSLCSC) located at the ‘Riverpoint’ complex of MMBL-Pathfinder group at Peliyagoda on December 14.
The event was witnessed by a high-level delegation from the DRC and senior officials of the Embassy of China. The Chinese delegation was welcomed by Milinda Moragoda, Founder and senior members of PF.
The visiting delegation had substantive discussions with the Founder of PF and its senior staff members on the broader theme ‘Cooperation between China & Sri Lanka in developing production capacity within the framework of BRI’. Both sides exchanged views on promoting and facilitating Chinese investment, establishing and operating industrial parks and formulating policies for strengthening future bilateral cooperation.
The Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council is a policy research and consulting institution functioning directly under the central government of China.
Its major function is to conduct advance research on overall comprehensive strategic and long-term issues in the field of economic and social development, as well as key issues relating to reforms and opening up, provide policy options and consulting advice to the Central Committee of CPC and the State Council.
Founder Moragoda highlighted that PF had been in operation for over ten years playing a catalytic role in advocating economic reforms, opening up of the economy and developing bilateral track II relations with countries such as China, India, the USA etc., and promoting dialogue and exchanges with several other countries including Singapore. He also highlighted the important role that can be played by the CSLCSC for furthering bilateral relations for mutual benefit and the need to continue and strengthen its programs.
Speaking on the wide network of think-tanks and educational institutions with which PF has established formal and working relationships, Moragoda said that among such Chinese institutions with which PF is having regular interactions were, the Chinese People’s Association of Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD), Boao Forum (BF), Shanghai Institutes for International
Studies (SIIS), China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), China Center for Contemporary World Studies, Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies of the Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (RIIO), South West University of Political Science and Law (SWUPSL), China Academy of West Region Development of Zhejiang University (CAWD), and China Center for South Asian Studies (CCSAS) of Sichuan University.
Vice President Long was accompanied by several delegates representing DRC. They included Zhang Qi, Vice-Director-General, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations; Wang Jinzhao, Vice-Director-General, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations; Lyu Zijian, Research Fellow, International Cooperation Department; Zhao Fujun, Researcher, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations; Gao Qingpeng, Researcher, attached to the General Office of DRC. The Chinese Embassy was represented by the head of the political division, Counsellor Luo Chong.
Add new comment