Sri Lankan President Anura Kumar Dissanayake
Beijing/Colombo: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumar Dissanayake arrived in China on Tuesday on a four-day visit. During this, he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other leaders on deepening bilateral relations. According to a press release issued from the Presidential Office in Colombo, Dissanayake was formally welcomed by the Chinese military upon his arrival. He was received by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong. This is Dissanayake’s second foreign visit since assuming the office of President in September last year. First of all he traveled to India.
Dissanayake will meet President Xi Jinping
During his visit to China, Dissanayake will hold bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping on the mutual interests of the two countries and will also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji. A press release from the President’s Office said that during the visit, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and China. During this official visit, Dissanayake will participate in a number of important events and conduct regional visits focusing on technological and agricultural development as well as initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. High level business meetings and discussions will also take place during this visit.
Relations between China and Sri Lanka will strengthen
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry had earlier said, “The visit to China will further strengthen the long-term relations between the two countries.” Many issues are likely to be discussed in Dissanayake’s meeting with Jinping. These include allowing Chinese research ships, which India considers spy ships; Sri Lanka’s debt commitments to China, which is said to be Colombo’s largest lender, and expansion of ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) investments. Sri Lanka hopes that this visit will result in the digitalization of Sri Lanka’s two state TV channels ‘Rupavahini’ and ‘ITN’.
There will also be discussion on Chinese industrial sector
The Media Division of the Sri Lankan President’s Office had earlier said in a release that Sri Lanka would also seek China’s assistance in completing the Central Expressway. The work on this expressway has been stalled for more than a decade. The sugar industrial area around the southern port of Hambantota will also be discussed in the meeting.
Dissanayake came to India first
Dissanayake, who was once a harsh critic of India, had come to Delhi on his first foreign trip. During his visit to India in December, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dissanayake, in an indirect reference to China, assured India that Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used in a manner that is detrimental to India’s interests. (Language)
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