Asia has changed today due to China - PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that Asia has changed today due to China which rose from friendship and self-reliance between countries.

The Prime Minister made this observation at a ceremony held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre to mark the 65th anniversary of Sino-Sri Lankan diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Agreement on Thursday (17).

Acting Chairman of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka Weerasumana Weerasinghe presented the Commemorative Summary on the 65th Anniversary of China-Sri Lanka Diplomatic Relations to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other party leaders.

Following is the full text of the speech made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of Sino-Sri Lankan diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Agreement.

“Before I give my speech, I would like to thank the President of China Xi Jinping for all the kind words and the action behind those words. I am confident that the strong bonds between our nations will be further strengthened by the deep-rooted friendship that we share among our people.

China is a country which lays claim to a long history. And it’s a great history. I think the philosophy of Confucius may have helped to nurture that great history.

Another important point in Chinese history is that although China was a large country it never invaded any country and never allowed its motherland to be subjugated by any foreign force.

In the past, all attempts by world powers to capture China failed. To this day, China has been able to remain a united state.

History states that relations between Sri Lanka and China date back to 2,000 years ago.

Friendship between the two countries has grown through Buddhism, international trade and cultural ties.

Dr. Sugeeshwara Wickremasinghe has taken steps to maintain relations with Chinese leaders politically. He attended the inaugural ceremony of the founding of the World Federation of Trade Unions in 1945. It was held in Paris. Chinese leaders also attended. It is there that the building of political relations between Sri Lanka and China began.

The first political delegation to visit China comprised of Philip Gunawardena, S.D. Bandaranaike, Edmund Samarakkody and S.G.S. Ratnaweera.

Thereafter the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association was established. It was headed by agroup including Ven.Udakandawala Siri Saranankara Thera, Kusuma Gunawardena, Theja Gunawardena, Peter Keuneman and S. D. Bandaranaike.The Rubber Rice Pact (1952) can be named as another milestone in friendship. In fact, a goodfoundation of friendship was laid during the 1956 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna government. The late Mr. Bandaranaike made a clear change in foreign policy. He established relations with socialist states.

The Left Movement, the Trade Union Movement and the Young Student Movement waged massive struggles for the recognition of China and the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. I attended those rallies when I was a student at Thurstan College. I remember the first Ambassador to China was Wilmot A. Perera. He was a pioneer in the Sooriyamal Campaign. After that A.B.Perera, Robert Gunawardena and William Gopallawa strengthened the friendship between the two countries. It was T. B. Subasinghe who played a significant role in this.After 1978, China embarked on new economic strategies. Between 1978 and 2010 there was very rapid development. Over the past decade, China implemented two new economic programs. The first was the implementation of the New Silk Road Project. Sri Lanka is also a founding member.