Beijing (Agencies): Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday, emphasizing the deepening of bilateral ties and fostering new areas of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Dissanayake is in China for a four-day state visit, marking his first trip to Beijing since assuming office.
During their discussions, Xi highlighted China’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic development and advancing collaboration in modern agriculture, digital economy, and marine economy. “China’s comprehensive reforms and modernization efforts will create new opportunities for Sri Lanka’s development,” Xi stated, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi praised the 68-year-long relationship between China and Sri Lanka, describing it as a model of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation. The two countries, he said, have achieved tangible benefits for their people through strategic cooperative partnerships and high-quality BRI projects.
Dissanayake’s visit underscores the enduring ties between the two nations, which established diplomatic relations in 1957. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun previously noted the relationship has withstood shifting global dynamics, maintaining steady growth and setting an example of friendly cooperation between countries of differing sizes.
Xi called for the joint building of a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, strengthening political trust and enhancing cooperation in various fields. The meeting reaffirmed China’s readiness to work closely with Sri Lanka to deepen their partnership and bring more benefits to their peoples.