2 October 2020 12:00 am
Celebrating China’s 71st National Day, the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association (SLCFA) yesterday said it wholeheartedly supported China’s social, economic and military development since the liberation that was marked on October 1, 1949.
In a statement, it said China had given the developing world a chance to escape from the clutches of hegemony of the Western Powers.
The SLCFA said the US and its allies had been intervening in the affairs of other nations under thinly disguised pretences for the last 30 years.
“However, in recent years, nations like Sri Lanka have received a certain amount of breathing space due to the rise of China, who has hitherto respected sovereignty and territorial integrity of its partners. The rise of China is important for us for many reasons. It has given us diplomatic, economic and military assistance in our times of need and it has shown us that there are alternative models of development outside what is recommended by the IMF and the World Bank. Most importantly it has given us a chance to assert our sovereignty,” the Association said.
“The SLCFA condemn all US restrictions imposed on China and other independent nations. People of Sri Lanka stand with China against hegemonic threats of the US, as well as intrusions of her allies in South Asia, threatening China’s territorial integrity,” it is said. “Therefore, we wish the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party of China for opening up a new phase of developments in International politics and supporting nations like Sri Lanka to protect the unitary status and sovereignty of our countries,” the SLCFA said.