China offers more

12 August 2010 06:25 am

China has welcomed the current situation in Sri Lanka, characterized by durable peace and stability, and looks forward to intensifying its initiatives to offer Sri Lanka assistance in developing its economy and strengthening its infrastructure.

This was said by Chinese Vice-Premier of China Li Keqiang to External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris who is in Beijing on an official visit, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang recalled the warm and mutual understanding pervading the relationship between the two countries during the last 53 years, and appreciated in particular Sri Lanka’s consistent advocacy of the “One-China Policy” and its strong endorsement of China’s stand on Taiwan and Tibet.

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang extended a cordial invitation to President Mahinda  Rajapaksa to attend the Closing Ceremony of Expo 2010 in Shanghai in October, and told Minister Peiris that the Government of China looks forward to the visit of  President Rajapaksa.

Peiris thanked Vice-Premier Li cordially for this invitation and for the unwavering support which China extended to Sri Lanka during the most challenging period of her recent history, both domestically and in all international fora. 

He noted with appreciation China’s massive contribution to the development and expansion of infrastructure in Sri Lanka, amounting to a portfolio of approximately 3 billion U.S. dollars in total, and cited as examples the Colombo – Katunayake Express Highway, the Hambantota Port and Bunkering Project, the Mattala International Airport, the Colombo – Matara Highway, the Norochcholai Power Project, the Matara – Kataragama Railway, and the Centre for the Performing Arts in Colombo.

Peiris told Vice-Premier Li that, within 4 days from the date of their meeting in Beijing, water will be let into the Hambantota Port and that the first ship will call at the Hambantota Port on 19th November, soon after President Mahinda Rajapaksa takes his oaths for the second time as Executive President of Sri Lanka after a resounding victory at the Presidential election. (Daily Mirror online)