China calls for India to join hands and develop Sri Lanka
China’s top diplomat in Sri Lanka openly welcomed India to “join us and develop this country” while stressing economic ties, and not geo politics, would be the strong foundation for close relations between Sri Lanka and China. Referring to the Colombo Financial City, formerly known as Port City, Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang said the multi-billion dollar project which will be built by Chinese companies was open for joint-collaboration with India. “We welcome any third party to join us and develop this country. We are open to joint cooperation (in Port City) and open not only to India but any other country too. We welcome constructive partners,” said Mr. Yi addressing the National Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
He revealed that China will pump in US$8 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) into the Financial City which will recruit 99 per cent of its workforce locally. Another $5 billion was touted as investments that will be available for economic zones in Hambantota and the Western province if they are given the green light by the Sri Lankan government. Ambassador Yi, a career diplomat, decried negative stories and comments (in the local media) over the last 18 months – since the government changed – which had created a climate of uncertainty. “Since the change of government there have been so many negative comments (about China’s involvement in Sri Lanka). There have even been stories that people in Sri Lanka would need visas from China to go to the Port City.
“But we, the Chinese government and the embassy here, said nothing for we believed the Sri Lankan government knew who their real friends are. We have no change in policy to Sri Lanka and I’m happy to say Sri Lanka has no change in policy to China,” Mr. Yi added. In the past year, President Maithripala Sirisena has made an official visit to Beijing while Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has made two official trips to China. The close bond between China and Sri Lanka had stood the test of time with Mr. Yi harking back to 1952 and the Rubber-Rice barter agreement signed by Dudley Senanayake’s government as testament to Sino-Sri Lankan friendship. The Ambassador intimated this friendship was bound to become even closer when an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between the two countries – it will be China’s 20th FTA – is signed.
“We are hopeful we can finalise negotiations before the end of the year”. Sri Lanka’s main exports to China are tea, gems, fruits and fish amounting to around $4.6 billion last year. But Mr. Yi said there was massive room for increased trade in all sectors, especially tea. “We have a population of 1.3 billion people. If one per cent of our population drank one cup of tea (from Sri Lanka) a day, you will not be able to sustain it (exports) right now. There is a great opportunity available for Sri Lanka but this opportunity will not be there forever with fierce competition from other countries,” Mr. Yi added.