China hopeful of resumption of work at Colombo Port City

[caption id="attachment_73178" align="alignnone" width="300"] President Maithripala Sirisena[/caption]   According to a report by China Daily  Liu Jianchao, assistant minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena told Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday that "what happened around the port city of Colombo is temporary and the problem does not lie with the Chinese side". The suspension of the Colombo Port City project has caused concern to the Chinese who defended the project as being in line with local laws. China, which has invested millions of dollars in Sri Lanka's infrastructure, is now the island's biggest backer. Sirisena arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a four-day visit. It is his first visit to China since taking office. Liu was quoted in the report as telling  reporters that Sirisena said Sri Lanka is appreciative of China's support and assistance for the development of major infrastructure projects, including the international port at Hambantota.