President Anura Kumara Dissanayake with a high-powered team undertook an official State visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from January 14 to 17. This was one of the most pivotal State visits undertaken by any President in Sri Lanka’s post-Independence history.
This was his second official visit abroad after assuming the Presidency last year – the first being to India. This was also his first official visit to the People’s Republic of China.
The visit concluded with the signing of 15 agreements and MoUs between the two countries. It is widely believed that assistance from China in a range of sectors will strengthen the country’s post-pandemic economy.
Many topics of bilateral and regional interest figured in the talks between President Dissanayake and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Priority was given to Sri Lanka’s debt structuring process, of which China is a key player along with the Paris Club.
The President arriving at the Great Hall is being warmly welcomed by the Chinese President amid a ceremonial gun salute
“I am willing to work with you, Mr. President, to chart a new vision for the development of bilateral relations and promote new and greater achievements in China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation,” President Xi said. “China will actively support Sri Lanka in focusing on economic development, and the two countries should jointly foster new highlights in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as cooperation in modern agriculture, digital economy, and marine economy.”
President Xi said that China’s ongoing efforts to deepen reforms and advance modernisation would create new opportunities for Sri Lanka. Acknowledging the “traditional friendship” between the two nations, he said that bilateral relations over the past 68 years have set an example of mutually beneficial cooperation. The Chinese President also promised continued support for Sri Lanka’s “Independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” according to Xinhua.
The leaders described their meeting as a step towards a new era of cooperation. “Together, we’re paving the way for a new era of Sri Lanka-China cooperation,” President Dissanayake said on social media following the signing of the agreements.
The President also held talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and other senior officials. The Presidential delegation also met the top brass of the globally- acclaimed leading Chinese companies to discuss investments in Sri Lanka. Among the companies represented at this discussion were China Harbour, Sinopec and Build Your Dreams (BYD) automobiles. All three companies are already present in Sri Lanka. The highlight of the event was Sinopec signing a preliminary agreement to construct a US$ 3.7 billion refinery in Hambantota, close to the Port. This is the largest single Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ever in Sri Lanka.
Tourism, agriculture, transport, trade and education were among other topics discussed with Chinese leaders and officials. Both sides agreed that the China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement should be expedited. This will strengthen the 68-year-old diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The President with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang
The warm welcome accorded to the President and his delegation throughout the four-day State visit indicates that China would always stand with Sri Lanka and would give its fullest support.
Currently, China is engaged in many developing projects in our country, especially in the South. The Hambantota Port and Airport, Colombo Port City, the Norochcholai power plant and some of the Expressways have been implemented with Chinese assistance.
The visit addressed various dimensions of many issues pertaining to both countries. They both need each other in different spheres. The Government needs financial and economic assistance from friendly countries such as China and India as it strives to emancipate the country from a lingering economic crisis.
It is also commonly accepted that the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) have a longstanding relationship that will be mutually beneficial. For the first time, Sri Lanka has a truly Socialist Government that is ideologically aligned with China. This could be a plus point for Sri Lanka.
Moreover, there are many lessons that we can draw from China in terms of poverty alleviation, agriculture, housing and education. China’s lifting of more than 800 million people out of extreme poverty since the late 1970s has been the largest global reduction in inequality in modern history. China’s poverty alleviation efforts include the Targeted Poverty Alleviation (TPA) program, poverty alleviation resettlement, and investments in rural areas.
The President with Secretary of the Communist Party of China
for Sichuan Province Wang Xiaohui
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or the Global Development Initiative (GDI) which was referred to by the two Presidents is getting popular among Asian countries. This Chinese project will smoothen transport and trade among Asian countries. Sri Lanka is an active partner of the GDI, which connects land and sea routes across Asia to promote trade and commerce.
On the geopolitical and political front, Sri Lanka has always followed a One China policy. With regard to maritime cooperation, which has raised fears in some quarters over Chinese vessels docking at Sri Lankan ports, Sri Lanka and China agreed to maritime cooperation during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official visit to Beijing. The two sides share the desire to continue maritime cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual trust, openness and mutual benefit and hold regular bilateral consultations on maritime affairs. The two sides are ready to deepen cooperation in fields such as conservation and restoration of the marine environment and ecosystems, maritime domain awareness, maritime rescue and disaster relief, and maritime personnel training and capacity building, and pool their strength to build a maritime community with a shared future.
It is significant that President Dissanayake and the team arrived in Colombo with a massive investment of US$ 3.7 billion and plenty of other beneficial MoUs under the Government’s belt. President Dissanayake also invited the Chinese President to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time, which he graciously accepted.
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Hearth, Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake and Director General of the Government Information Department H.S.K.J. Bandara accompanied the President.
The writer was the Press Attache for the Soviet Embassy Information Department in Colombo for several years and specialises in writing on International Relations.
President Dissanayake offering floral tributes at the
Mao Zedong Memorial, dedicated to the founding leader
of the People’s Republic of China
The President along with Ministers Vijitha Herath and Bimal Rathnayake at the ‘Investment Forum’ jointly organised by Chinese State and private enterprises
