Government expects China-Lanka ties to reach new level

The Government expects relations between Sri Lanka and China to reach a new level during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to China this week.

The Prime Minister will be leaving for a three-day state visit to China on the 06^th of April, at the invitation of the Government of Peoples Republic of China.

This is his first visit as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Peoples Republic of China, since the ‘Good Governance’ Government of President Maithripala Sirisena was formed in January last year.

On this visit, he will be holding high level discussions with the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People?s Congress, Zhang Dejiang. These discussions are expected to advance the relations between the two countries to a new level, the Prime Minister’s office said.

The visit of the Prime Minister to Peoples Republic of China comes as an extension of the goodwill visit made by President Maithripala Sirisena to China last year.

Undertaken with a view of strengthening the relations between China and Sri Lanka, this visit is expected to promote co-operation mechanisms between the two countries in the spheres of economic affairs, investment and technology. It is also expected to bolster co-operation in science, sports, tourism development, financial services and water resources management along with initiation of mobile clinics for kidney patients. During this visit, it is expected that many multi-lateral agreements will be entered into between the two countries,?the Prime Minister’s office said.

In a gesture that will renew the strong and historic ties between the United National Party and the Chinese Communist Party, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will also hold talks with the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao.

In Sri Lanka, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister R. Paskaralingam along with the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang has been handling all key matters concerning the Prime Minister?s visit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry together with Ranjith Uyangoda, Additional?Secretary of the Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan Ambassador in China Dr Karunasena Kodituwakku are coordinating the arrangements in China.

During this visit, a group of business representatives from Sri Lanka will hold discussions with leading Chinese entrepreneurs, with a view of enhancing Chinese investments in Sri Lanka.

Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe will be accompanying the Prime Minister on this visit. The Prime Ministerial entourage will include the Minister of Foreign Affairs?Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Minister of Special Projects Sarath Amunugama, Minister of City Planning and?Water Supply Rauf Hakeem, the Minister of Housing and?Construction Sajith Premadasa, the Minister of Development Strategies and?International Trade Malik Samarawickrema, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Athaudahetti, the UNP?s Co-ordinator for International Relations Mahinda Haradasa and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Sandra Perera. (Colombo Gazette)