A Statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Colombo
(May 24, Beijing, Sri Lanka Guardian) External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris was received on Tuesday by Mr. Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.
The Foreign Ministers noted that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is extremely warm and cordial.
Prof. Peiris emphasized that Sri Lanka will continue to uphold the ‘One China Policy’ which has been a consistent feature of the country’s foreign policy. He congratulated China on the heights of irreversible progress and prosperity which she had attained.
The Foreign Minister of China expressed his government’s appreciation of the accomplishments of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government in eradicating terrorism in Sri Lanka and putting the country on the track of rapid economic development. He cordially invited President Rajapaksa to visit the People’s Republic of China.
Minister Peiris briefed his counterpart in detail about Sri Lanka’s position on a range of issues connected with the Darusman Report, the work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and initiatives on the part of the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka.
With regard to developing circumstances generally, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi assured Prof. Peiris that China has total confidence in the capability of the government and people of Sri Lanka to resolve their own issues. He said that China will stand by Sri Lanka in achieving the tasks of reconciliation and reconstruction.
Minister Peiris, referring to China’s contribution to the economic development of Sri Lanka, expressed his appreciation of the generous assistance by China in financing the Hambantota Port Development Project, the Mattala Airport, the Puttalam Coal Power Project and the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. The two Ministers, while noting that funding for several road development and reconstruction projects in the North and South of Sri Lanka have already been finalized, discussed arrangements proposed by Sri Lanka for Hambantota Harbour Phase II and the Matara – Kataragama New Railroad Extension.
Prof. Peiris, who observed that 2011 has been characterized as “Visit Sri Lanka Year”, noted that Sri Lankan Airlines has commenced flight operations to Shanghai and Guangzhou recently. The two Ministers recalled with pleasure that China Eastern Airlines commenced its maiden flight from Kunming to Colombo during the visit to Sri Lanka of the Governor of the Yunnan Province in August last year.
It was noted that China had granted accredited destination status to Sri Lanka, facilitating an increased momentum in attracting Chinese tourists into Sri Lanka. The Ministers expressed confidence that, with improved air connectivity, more Chinese investments would flow into Sri Lanka.
Minister Peiris, while appreciating assistance given under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, reiterated that China would benefit from facilitating more export opportunities and transfer of technology to upgrade Sri Lanka’s exportable products to China and the rest of the world. He said that Sri Lanka will take a keen interest in ensuring maximum participation of our entrepreneurs at the South Asian Fair which will take place in early June this year. Minister Yang Jiechi said that his government was committed to the adoption of measures to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries.
Prof. Peiris said that the National Theatre for the Performing Arts, built by China, would be accepted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, at a formal ceremony shortly.
Minister Yang Jiechi accepted with pleasure the invitation extended to him by Minister Peiris to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time.
 External Affairs Minister Professor...){kind=link}
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