Govt. keen on FTA with China

6 February 2015 02:48 pm - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Chinese Special Envoy Liu Jianchao, who is also the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, after meeting Sri Lankan leaders, said the new Sri Lankan Government was keen on entering into a the Free Trade Agreement( FTA) with China.

The new Government has decided to review all China-funded projects in Sri Lanka and continue with the previously initiated dialogue with China on the signing of the proposed FTA.

Addressing the media and Sri Lankan scholars at a function in the Chinese embassy, Mr. Jianchao said the new hopeful of signing the FTA with China. He said China appreciated the progress made in this regard.

"It will help Sri Lanka to achieve its target of increasing its export volume to US$20 billion by 2020," Mr. Jianchao said adding that the Government had agreed to proceed with all Chinese-funded projects subject to revaluation and reassessment in a manner that would not disrupt the “time tested and time honoured relationship” between the two countries.

He met President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"I don’t see any obstacles. Sri Lanka is an all-weather friend of China. This friendship started with the Rubber-Rice Pact. It was an agreement important both in terms of economic and strategic interests," Mr. Jianchao said.

He said China-Sri Lanka relations had not been designed to target a third party and it was meant only to ensure peace and prosperity for the people. Asserting that both sides agreed to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations, Mr. Jianchao said China was happy about Sri Lanka having more friends both in the region and other parts of the world.

With regard to China-funded projects, he said all these projects were initiatives with the accepted procedures and regulations stipulated by the Sri Lankan Government.

When asked about India raising concerns about a Chinese submarine which docked in the Colombo Port, Mr. Jinchao said Chinese warships had continued to escort trading vessels through this shipping lane, and therefore it was nothing new. He said China would never use Sri Lanka against the security interest of another country.

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Comments - 22

Waco Saturday, 07 February 2015 06:13 PM

Get China to develop Trinco: Harbour to be the International Standard Commercial Harbour of Sri Lanks.

sg Sunday, 08 February 2015 08:41 AM

Sri Lankan people must keep in their mind that China has been kept good relationship by giving their support in internationally when the Sri Lanka faced serious issues in their history. Also, one of the friendly country in the world that has been invested huge amount of investments in recent history. Problems with not Chinese investments or government but problems were wrong management and corrupted actions of the local politicians. Therefore, , new government must be maintain balance policy by giving equal friendship to China without going bias policy with regard Europe tactful approaches.

Waco Sunday, 08 February 2015 03:32 AM

At the end we will have to look for " Litchavie Raja Daruwo " in Amazone Rain Forest.

Waco Sunday, 08 February 2015 03:29 AM

Before long India will control us through USA, until the get a firm hold.Thereafter USA will control us through India.

Waco Sunday, 08 February 2015 03:26 AM

Where Tmails are concerned those never ending demands. Very soon up-country Tamils too will put forward their demands . Until we hand. Over the country those demands will never end. I hope our rulers will understand this situation.

Waco Sunday, 08 February 2015 03:20 AM

I feel India is sneaking against Sri Lanka to USA and as result USA is pressurerising us. And also India is showing us a sweet face and encourage Tamils to fight for their demand.

Wacp Sunday, 08 February 2015 02:16 AM

Non-alined policy is long out dated. Be alined with China 100%. If not we are in danger.Hope our politicians can understand the danger.

Waco Saturday, 07 February 2015 11:41 PM

With the prevailing non-alined policy of ours, a big shake can swallow us. No one will come to help us. Therefore be alined .

Waco Saturday, 07 February 2015 11:37 PM

Be alined with China 100%. Sooner the better.

Siri Saturday, 07 February 2015 09:24 PM

China wants the 20 million Sri Lankan population as a market for their goods. India wants the same thing but only for Indian goods. They do not want anybody else sharing that market. We are better off having both compete against each other.

Mr Hedge Saturday, 07 February 2015 07:50 PM

No need. Storage capacity is fixed. Expertise in risk management is required.

karu Friday, 06 February 2015 10:05 PM

Please do not fund any fancy projects. we are already debt ridden.

db Saturday, 07 February 2015 01:49 PM

We wellcome China as a friend …unlike the western friends time serving only ..

boris Saturday, 07 February 2015 11:32 AM

The Chinese will profit much more then SL from this agreement. A Chinese Tsunami is ahead.

Waco Saturday, 07 February 2015 08:20 AM

India has never helped Sri Lanka. They are trying hard to isolate Sri Lanka .

sri Saturday, 07 February 2015 05:23 AM

After all China is not getting kicked out !

gobbaya Saturday, 07 February 2015 04:56 AM

even without an FTA we are a semi dumping ground for china...already fully fledged dumping ground for India thanks to that FTA.....good luck via DM Android App

cheers Saturday, 07 February 2015 02:49 AM

I thought you criticized china for the relationship Rajapakse had and does not want their support and now you and UNP have forgotten wha you said to people am i missing a point here

subha Saturday, 07 February 2015 12:25 AM

All Hail China!

LKcricket Saturday, 07 February 2015 12:21 AM

This is a very encouraging development as far as our strategic positioning concerned. We need China to netralize influence of our big enemies. China will never invade our country and historically we have been very good friend and China has helped us in our economically and culturally.

Pradeep Friday, 06 February 2015 10:48 PM

How about Sri Lanka Government making use of Trincomalee Storage Tank Farms to store oil and Gas when the world prices are at record lows.

Kula Friday, 06 February 2015 10:43 PM

Glad to see them getting their priorities right.

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Govt. keen on FTA with China

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