Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Assistance to Sri Lanka - No strings attached: China

15 November 2017 09:09 am - 5     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

China will not attach any strings when extending financial assistance to Sri Lanka and will not use an investigation into alleged human rights violations or war crimes during the armed conflict as a precondition, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

Miss Zhang Song, who is the the Secretary of the South Asian Division of the Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, said her country provided assistance on the sole basis of the centuries old cultural, trade and religious links between the two countries.

She said this when she met Sri Lankan journalists currently visiting China under a cultural and media exchange programme.

Miss Song said however, the development and technological assistance from China to any country was not based on politics or individuals and had no special affection for former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime during which billions of dollars’ worth of development programmes were launched in Sri Lanka. She said the Chinese government maintained close and friendly links with the current administration led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"We are aware of the strategic location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. That is why we offer whatever assistance possible to Sri Lanka to stand on its feet as a major partner in the South Asian region. For instance, the Colombo Port handles more than two million containers and it could be easily increased to six million," she stressed.

Miss Song said China agreed to Sri Lanka's request to renegotiate the Hambantota Port Development Project because China did not want an investment programme launched in good faith to be turned into a political issue in the beneficiary country.

She said Sri Lanka had the potential to rise as a economically powerful and strategically important country in the Asia region and China would always back Sri Lanka to achieve that target.

Miss Song reiterated China's willingness to invest in modern technological projects centered in particular on the proposed Free Trade Zone in Hambantota generating nearly 100,000 employment opportunities for Sri Lankan youth. (Sandun A Jayasekera reporting from Beijing)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 5

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Worker Wednesday, 15 November 2017 11:04 AM

    While Japan and India gave huge amount of money as relief aid for free during Tsunami China provided money as relief aid for Interest. Hard to expect no string attached from Business minded governments

    Kadiya Wednesday, 15 November 2017 11:26 AM

    Only Chinese noodles!!!

    Brainmaster Wednesday, 15 November 2017 01:49 PM

    China if you dont have special sympathies towards the previous Government and if you support the people of SL then you must divulge how much commissions where paid and to whom. via DM Android App

    Sincere Wednesday, 15 November 2017 02:26 PM

    Unless the string will be brought in later and tie it on to us!

    TONY Thursday, 16 November 2017 08:39 AM

    ROPES TO STRANGLE OUR COUNTRY AND NOT STRINGS


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H

MIRROR CRICKET

More