There have been many unique moments of China-Sri Lanka friendship. The arrival of Chinese bhikkhu Fa Hien via the famous Ancient Silk Road marked a major milestone in the links between the two countries.
The late Minister Philip Gunawardena, father of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Zhou Enlai, a former Premier of China, were old friends. They met for the first time in 1928 at a conference in Germany. There the two became close friends. That friendship continued until the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1957.
In a poignat moment, Prime Minister Gunawardena was the chief guest at the Seventh China-South Asia Exhibition held in Kuming, Yunnan Province of Southwest China recently on the invitation of the Chinese Government, further reinforcing Sino-Lanka bonds initiated by his father.
Prime Minister Gunawardena, who spoke at the diplomatic meeting, thanked China for its steadfast support to Sri Lanka in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and for providing timely and effective support to Sri Lanka in difficult times.
He said forward-looking flagship cooperation projects between the two parties, such as Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port, would benefit the Sri Lankan people and play a major role in regional connectivity and sustainable development.
Cooperation
Premier Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka will work with China to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism, energy and innovation to help Sri Lanka achieve food self-sufficiency and accelerate the development of key industries.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said that China has always been Sri Lanka’s reliable strategic partner and Sri Lanka has always been friendly with China in matters related to its core interests.
He said that he appreciated Sri Lanka’s friendship with China. His country would always strongly support Sri Lanka in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and national pride.
Foreign Minister Yi expressed China’s willingness to strengthen cooperation in various fields as well as bolster diplomatic links with Sri Lanka. He pledged that China would help Sri Lanka to improve its capacity for independent development, escape from the “poverty trap” and underdevelopment, and accelerate its industrialization process and agricultural modernisation.
He believed that Sri Lanka would overcome its temporary difficulties, find a path of development in accordance with its national conditions, and achieve resurgence and prosperity.
The Sri Lanka-China relationship dates back thousands of years. In modern times, this relationship has been strengthened through initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative (GDI), formerly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). There had been no interference by China in Sri Lanka’s domestic developments and politics.
China has extended assistance to development projects in Sri Lanka during almost all administrations since its Independence in 1948. Sri Lankan leaders including D.S. Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (during whose tenure diplomatic ties with China were established), J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa. D.B. Wijetunga, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe have all been good friends of China. In fact, President Wickremesinghe is due to visit China later this month.
Intentions
China helps Sri Lanka in many ways with good intentions. The Rubber-Rice Pact between the two countries was signed even before the establishment of diplomatic ties. The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) and the Supreme Court Complex at Hulftsdorp are two outright gifts from China. The BMICH was gifted by China at the request of then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike for the Non-Aligned Summit (NAM) held in Colombo in August 1976. The military and economic assistance extended during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been very much beneficial for the victory in the war against terrorism.
The Colombo Port and Port City (to be designated as a Financial City) are very important and useful ventures that materialised through China-Sri Lanka economic agreements. Chinese Governments have provided different types of aid packages for infrastructure facilities needed for large scale development projects in Sri Lanka.
There are a number of China-Sri Lanka friendship organisations as well and members of such organizations visit the two countries regularly. Community development projects are also in operation with the assistance of these friendship organisations some of which date back to 1950, well before the establishment of diplomatic ties. The first China-Sri Lanka friendship organisation was initiated in 1950 by the wife of the late Minister Philip Gunawardena, Kusuma Gunawardena, mother of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
China is a true friend and it is very much anxious to come forward and help Sri Lanka at all times without any conditions. There have been many significant events marking the cordial friendship between China and Sri Lanka over the years.
The writer is a former Program Director of Chinese International Radio (CIR) and a veteran journalist.
