Sixty years after playing a crucial role in bringing warring China and India to a ceasefire, Sri Lanka is today poised for a similar role in bringing West and East economic powers to a conciliatory platform. The proposal for Sri Lanka to play a conciliatory role was discussed at several international forums in Chongqing last week.
Chinese experts on digitalisation, poverty alleviation and rural revitalisation believe Sri Lanka could be a key player in 
bridging the East and West. President Xi Jinping’s decision to establish a leadership development institute where future leaders from China, the United States, Europe and West Asia could interact is one of the potential platforms for active cooperation between East and West.
The Leadership Institute is in Lian Jia He, the Chinese President’s birthplace, a scenic resort in Shaanxi Province. Today, the echoes of Liang Jia He resonate far beyond its geographical boundaries, encapsulating the essence of shared vision and international cooperation. The Liang Jia He Leadership Institute aims to be a groundbreaking initiative born from the collaborative strengths of China, USA and Europe. Zhou Chuande, President of Chongqing Industry Polytechnic College, said that the new Leadership Institute is dedicated to providing digital economy-based innovation and entrepreneurship training programs for the local talents in developed and developing countries so that they will be able to link the local economic activities to the WODIP (World Digital Trade and Investment Platform) and boost the local socioeconomic revitalisation more efficiently and effectively.
Geographical divides
“The significance of Liang Jia He extends beyond national borders, as these nations converge to champion a cause that transcends geographical divides,” he said.
Head of NeoChina Research Center Liu Yang Sloan is confident Sri Lanka could become an important link in China’s collaboration with the USA and West Asia. “China, with its technological prowess and Cost-effective industrial solutions, Sri Lanka as a strategic bridge, Saudi Arabia with its visionary economic diversification support, and the USA as a leader in financial leverage and innovation, collectively forge a collaborative tapestry to address the needs of grassroots communities on a global scale,” Sloan said at the Chongqing Conclave.
He believes that Liang Jia He village transcends its humble designation as a small village to become a poignant symbol deeply ingrained in the fabric of Chinese history. During his transformative sojourn in Liang Jia He, President Xi Jinping bore witness to the unyielding hardships of rural life, fostering a profound understanding of the grassroots and their inherent needs. The crucible of Liang Jia He became a classroom of empathy, shaping the leader’s perspective on the challenges faced by developing countries’ grassroots communities worldwide, Sloan said.
The Liang Jia He Leadership Institute emerges as a pioneering initiative poised to bridge the gap between China and the USA, transcending ideological differences to create an inclusive and innovative cooperative environment. This flagship project stands as a beacon of collaboration, dedicated to advancing socioeconomic revitalisation and fostering a harmonious narrative for developing countries worldwide.
President Xi Jinping’s engagements with the United States, starting with his initial visit in 1985, have further enriched the narrative. His recurrent trips, notably his close ties with rural families in Iowa State, underscore a commitment to fostering agriculture and rural development cooperation. This exchange of knowledge and experience strengthens the bond between China and the USA and lays a solid foundation for future collaborations, fostering a shared legacy of progress and innovation.
Collaborative space
The Leadership Institute becomes a testament to the potential of inclusive cooperation between China and the USA, setting a precedent for nations worldwide. By uniting the strengths of both countries, the Institute envisions a collaborative space where shared objectives eclipse ideological differences, creating a model for international partnerships rooted in shared goals.
The Leadership Institute’s dedication to socioeconomic revitalisation underscores its commitment to addressing developing nations’ pressing challenges. By focusing on initiatives that uplift grassroots communities, the Institute becomes a catalyst for positive change, aligning with China’s and the USA’s shared interests in fostering global development.
The Institute stands as a testament to the power of collaboration that transcends ideological confrontations. By creating a cooperative environment that prioritises mutual understanding and shared goals, it becomes a model for how nations can work together despite differences, setting a positive tone for diplomatic engagements.
Chinese analysts are of the view that Sri Lanka, with its unique distinction as a democratic socialistic country with 80% of its population residing in rural areas and having sustained an agricultural lifestyle for thousands of years, could share its experience with the Chinese Leadership Institute. “Sri Lanka’s commitment to democratic socialism forms the bedrock of its governance. This ideology inherently values equitable distribution of resources, social justice, and community-centric development. These principles align seamlessly with the core mission of the Liang Jia He Leadership Institute, fostering a collaborative environment that prioritises the needs of rural communities,” Liu Yang Sloan said.
The geographical advantage and a history of cultural exchange position Sri Lanka as a catalyst for translating Chinese experiences and solutions into narratives that resonate with developing countries. The Institute can leverage Sri Lanka’s role as a cultural nexus to facilitate efficient and effective knowledge transfer, Chinese experts stated at Chongqing Conclave.
Diverse challenges
By contextualising Chinese innovations within the narratives of developing countries, Sri Lanka ensures that these solutions can be duplicated more efficiently and effectively. They said this localisation effort is crucial for addressing the diverse challenges faced by rural communities across the globe. “The cultural diversity within Sri Lanka, a melting pot of ethnicities and traditions, enriches the collaborative dialogue within the Institute. This diversity provides a dynamic backdrop for cross-cultural understanding and innovation, fostering an environment where the strengths of each partner nation can harmoniously contribute to the Institute’s objectives,” Sloan said.
Saudi Arabia’s strategic involvement in the Liang Jia He Leadership Institute carries immense significance, driven by its visionary economic diversification objectives and ambition to emerge as a world investment hub. Saudi Arabia’s multifaceted contributions align seamlessly with the Institute’s mission, fostering a global environment of innovation and empowerment.
Last week, Sri Lanka entered into a few agreements with China to enhance cooperation in social empowerment and rural revitalisation sector training in Chongqing, China. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Establishment of the Colombo Secretariat of the International Vocational Education Alliance and Sri Lanka Branch of China-Sri Lanka International Institute of Vocational Education was signed by State Minister Anupa Pasqual, Member of the CPC Committee and Vice President of Chongqing Industry Polytechnic College, Dr Qin Chuanjiang and Chairman of Tertiary & Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka, Dr Udeni Wickremasinghe, Director General Dr K A Lalithadheera. Vice Chancellor of the University of Vocational Technology, Prof. Mahesh Edirisinghe, was also engaged in preliminary discussions on this agreement.
Another MoU on sister district linkage between Kalutara Liang Ping District of Chongqing Municipality was signed by the State Minister and Deputy Governor of Liang Ping District, Mr Xiong Liang.
In addition, the Chongqing Economic Cooperation Commission has agreed to provide 100 Electric 3-Wheeler Carriers to Sri Lanka under the Chongqing grant to Sri Lanka announced in July 2023 at the Meeting between Hon Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Hon Dr Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee of China Communist Party (CPC) at the Temple Trees in Colombo.
Meanwhile, Chongqing Three Gorges Vocational College has signed the MoU with the State Ministry of Social Empowerment to provide employment and entrepreneurship-based training and education. An immediate 20 full-scholarship quota has been allocated to Sri Lanka by the Chongqing Vocational Training Institute.
Sugeeswara Senadhira in Chongqing
