China hails bilateral exchanges with Sri Lanka
The Morning: Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong has reaffirmed their enduring friendship with Sri Lanka, highlighting strong bilateral cooperation in development projects, public welfare initiatives, and crisis response.
The two countries have stood together through challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, economic crises, kidney disease, and flood relief efforts, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said.
Ambassador Qi made these remarks in a statement commemorating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
He noted that earlier this year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China resulted in significant understandings with President Xi Jinping, including jointly building a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future and elevating bilateral relations to a new level.
Ambassador Qi highlighted that cooperation between the two countries spans major infrastructure and livelihood projects from the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port improvements to the Central Expressway Project, integrated water supply schemes, school donations, free cataract surgeries, and refurbishment of public institutions.
“Our bilateral exchanges are multi-faceted. From daily people-to-people engagement to frequent high-level visits on state governance, from the new progress of the Colombo port city to the improved performance of the Hambantota port, from the full resumption of the Central Expressway Project Section one to the Gampaha, Attanagalla, and Minuwangoda Integrated Water Supply Scheme, from the donation of stationery and fabric for school uniforms to the free cataract surgeries, and from the Out-Patient Department building of the Sri Lankan National Hospital to the refurbishment of the Superior Courts Complex, among many others, these vivid examples of both major and livelihood projects showcase the all-round advancement of our bilateral relations,” he said.
He concluded his statement with a message of goodwill: “We wish China and Sri Lanka greater prosperity and everlasting friendship.”
OSL take:
Sri Lanka and China enjoy strong bilateral and trade ties that span many decades. Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean and overall economic status have all resulted in China placing Sri Lanka prominently in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as becoming a key development partner of the country. While there are many ongoing Chinese funded projects in Sri Lanka, they have opened many business/investment opportunities for Chinese businesses to engage with Sri Lanka in key economic sectors. Many Chinese businesses/investors are engaged in business activities in Sri Lanka and the growth and profits recorded by them indicate the increasing business potential in the country. With Sri Lanka’s strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean, the many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by Sri Lanka with many foreign countries and the business conducive environment in the country, Sri Lanka presents the ideal business destination for Chinese businesses/investors to set up bases to engage with other markets in the region. Given that Sri Lanka’s economy is on an overall expansion path with an increase in business/investment opportunities and a growing business potential, Chinese business/investors could confidently explore the lucrative ventures in the country while also looking at expanding operations through local collaborations. Other foreign businesses/investors interested in doing business with China could set up bases in Sri Lanka and engage with China using the preferential treatment enjoyed by Sri Lanka in China.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20251007/Z_2 |