Chinese Foreign Minister due today

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in Sri Lanka on a two day official visit following a invitation extended by Foreign Affairs minister Mangala Samaraweera, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

During his stay in Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on separate occasions, and hold talks with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Sri Lanka is a traditionally friendly neighbor of China, as well as a significant cooperative partner in China’s Belt and Road initiative. During Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s visit to China last April, leaders of the two countries reached broad consensus on cementing bilateral traditional friendship and pressing ahead with cooperation on major projects. 

"China looks forward to taking this visit to implement the important consensus reached by the leadership, step up cooperation on politics, trade and investment, industrial capacity, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, and score new heights for the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual assistance and long-lasting friendship," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said.