SL-China ties deepen further with first Guangxi Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum

The exchange of MoUs between Sri Lanka-China Business Council - Guangxi Autonomous Region China, People’s Bank of Sri Lanka - China Development Bank (Guangxi Branch) and Electroteks Network Services Pte Ltd-Guilin CEKE Communication Equipment Co. Ltd. Pic by Nisal Baduge

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
The friendly handshake between China and Sri Lanka got firmer yesterday with a large delegation from Guangxi having arrived in Colombo to engage in discussions and exchange proposals to further 
boost trade.
In an effort initiate and strengthen relationships between the two countries, jointly organized was a China (Guangxi) – Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.
The forum is the first to be held in strengthening partnership with Guangxi. The event took place just days after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Xiang in China, to address a host of bilateral issues faced by 
both nations. 
Guangxi is identified as one of China’s business destinations that consist of significant development potential and investment opportunities. The province has been successful in attracting of about US$ 34.2 billion from more than 70 countries in 2016.
The forum served as a platform for the local private sector to engage with over 50 visiting delegates representing 28 leading companies. The visiting companies looked to partner in the areas of infrastructure, medical, logistics, finance, construction, manufacturing, tourism, tea, gem & jewellery, and electro communication.
While expressing interest in investing in Sri Lanka, especially in the areas of logistics to complement the Silk Road Economic Road agenda, visiting government heads of Guangxi highlighted industries the local business communities could benefit from by partnering in their territory. 
Addressing the fully paced forum from China was Secretary of Communist Party of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee Penh Qinghua, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka Yang Zuoyuan, and Deputy Mayor of Wuzhou 
Municipal Government.
Highlighting investment opportunities in Sri Lanka was State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation A. H. M. Fowzie, Sector Head of Chinese Investment Promotion of BOI Vipula Jayasingha.
The forum was followed by a series of B2B meetings between the private sector representatives from 
both nations.