Sri Lanka-China FTA expected to be signed in 2019

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and China is expected to be signed in 2019, China Daily reported on Thursday, quoting the Sri Lankan Embassy in China.

According to the embassy, the sixth round of negotiations to formulate the FTA had been concluded in March 2017.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, Karunasena Kodituwakku, has said Sri Lanka is very keen to expand its exports to the Chinese market.

“Sri Lanka considers the China International Import Expo an important platform for its products to enter the Chinese market. I hope the expo will bring the country greater opportunities,” he said.

The ambassador highlighted that Sri Lanka considers the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) a great opportunity for its development and attaches importance to BRI joint projects between China and Sri Lanka, like Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port.

He also said he hopes to bring more investment to Sri Lanka to make Colombo Port City a financial centre in South Asia.