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China says it maintains an “all weather friendship” with Sri Lanka
China has underscored that it maintains an “all weather friendship” with Sri Lanka and would continue to promote strong relations between the two countries.
Mr. Samaraweera meeting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing
These sentiments were conveyed to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera during his two-day official visit to China where he held bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
During talks, both sides reiterated the importance of the bilateral relationship between China and Sri Lanka, which has stood the test of time amidst changing international circumstances and evolution of domestic political situations, as testimony of a solid and deep friendship between the two countries.
Minister Samaraweera informed the Chinese side that it was the desire of the new Government of Sri Lanka to further strengthen the warm and robust bilateral relations and the cooperative partnership which would be the key objective of the upcoming State visit to China by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Sri Lanka Embassy said in a statement.
Minister Samaraweera also briefed the Chinese side on recent developments in Sri Lanka, including the formation of the new Government, which he stated was a Government of national unity between the two major political parties in Sri Lanka.
He said both these parties had over the years, fostered Sri Lanka – China relations and as such, both the President and Prime Minister are keen to take forward the relationship to a new level of excellence.
The Chinese Foreign Minister underscored the nature of the relationship between China and Sri Lanka as an “all weather friendship” and reiterated that China will continue to promote strong relations with Sri Lanka.
During his visit which ended yesterday, Minister Samaraweera paid a courtesy call on Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and also held bilateral discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. He also met with the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Jiarui and the Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng. Si Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Ranjith Uyangoda, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr. A.M.J. Sadiq and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing participated in the meetings.