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China shows it certainly knows what is good for Sri Lanka
Friendship Bridge at the Great Hall: Despite growing controversy over large-scale projects between the two countries, there were little signs of discontent when China’s President Xi Jinping warmly greeted President Maithripala Sirisena at Beijing’s Great Hall of The People. The two leaders later held official talks and several new agreements were signed.After according visiting Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena a red-carpet welcome at Beijing’s Great Hall of The People on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated a line that had been previously uttered by a foreign ministry spokesman that Colombo should protect the “legitimate interests of Chinese companies’’.
The maiden trip also became an occasion for China to lecture on what is good for Sri Lanka. Mr. Sirisena’s visit came at time a more important figure was also in town to shake Xi’s hand – Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Widodo has offered to be an honest intermediary in resolving China’s controversial claims of sovereignty over territory in the South China Sea, contested vigorously by Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Japan. Widodo also wants Chinese investment in infrastructure and manufacturing.Later, in southern Hainan, at the Boao Forum For Asia, which Mr. Sirisena is attending, Xi made an irresistible pitch saying that China would import goods worth US$10 trillion in the next five years and invest US$500 billion-plus overseas. In his keynote speech, Mr. Xi also echoed the line that has been ringing in Colombo’s ears for a while.
He gave an undertaking that China will “protect the lawful rights and interests of investors.’’ Legislator Zhang Dejiang, who chairs the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the apex ruling body, also met Mr. Sirisena. According to the state news agency Xinhua, Zhang reminded the Sri Lankan President of the responsibility and obligation of both countries to carry forward and develop China-Sri Lanka friendship.
He also said China’s legislature would work more closely with Sri Lanka’s Parliament “to carry forward the consensus of the two presidents and step up legislation cooperation to provide legal guarantees for pragmatic cooperation,’’ Xinhua reported. On the day that Mr. Sirisena arrived, Communist Party mouthpiece, The Global Times, said confidently in an English opinion, that “no matter which party takes power, it will sustain a good relationship with China’’, noting that bilateral relations were “still solid’’. Titled ‘Sri Lanka recognises value of Chinese friendship in post-election era’, it was written by Lan Jianxue, an associate research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies.
The opinion observed that Mr. Sirisena has confirmed in a reply to his Chinese counterpart that his administration would be “committed to elevating Sri Lanka-China strategic partnership of cooperation to a new level, and will create favorable conditions for the expansion of Sri Lanka-China economic and trade cooperation and China’s investment in Sri Lanka’’.
Emphasising China’s own view of its importance to Sri Lanka, the opinion claims that “Sri Lanka’s strategic goals will be better guaranteed if Colombo can integrate them with China-backed projects such as the 21st century maritime Silk Road and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’’.
Referring to the troubled Colombo Port City, the opinion said, “Colombo knows clearly that this project is crucial to the development of the capital, as it will offer a great deal of employment and attract vast investments’’. These are unproven assertions of jobs and investment from a project that lawmakers say is not transparent.
The opinion said: “Sri Lanka needs foreign investment more than ever, and a consistent policy is crucial for attracting foreign investment. In this visit, Mr. Sirisena will not only show his commitment to carry forward the current infrastructure projects to the Chinese leadership, but also try to explore new areas for cooperation’’.