Forthcoming bilateral talks with China were expected to advance relations between the two countries to a new level, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Office said in a statement issued yesterday.


Premier Wickremesinghe is scheduled to leave for Beijing on Wednesday (April 6) for a three-day visit

Text of PM’s Office statement is as follows –

“This is his first visit as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to the People’s Republic of China, since the Good Governance Government of President Maithripala Sirisena was formed in January last year.

On this visit, he will be holding high level discussions with the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of The National People’s Congress, Zhang Dejiang. These discussions are expected to advance the relations between the two countries to a new level.

The visit of the Prime Minister to People’s Republic of China comes as an extension of the goodwill visit made by President Maithripala Sirisena to China last year. Undertaken with a view of strengthening the relations between China and Sri Lanka, this visit is expected to promote co-operation mechanisms between the two countries in the spheres of economic affairs, investment and technology.

It is also expected to bolster co-operation in science, sports, tourism development, financial services and water resources management along with initiation of mobile clinics for kidney patients. During this visit, it is expected that many multilateral agreements will be entered into between the two countries.

In a gesture that will renew the strong and historic ties between the United National Party and the Chinese Communist Party, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will also hold talks with the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao.

During this visit, a group of business representatives from Sri Lanka will hold discussions with leading Chinese entrepreneurs, with a view to enhancing Chinese investments in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe will be accompanying the Prime Minister on the visit. The Prime Ministerial entourage will include Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Special Projects Sarath Amunugama, Minister of City Planning & Water Supply Rauf Hakeem, Minister of Housing & Construction Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Development Strategies & International Trade Malik Samarawickrema, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Athaudahetti, The UNP’s Co-ordinator for International Relations Mahinda Haradasa and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Sandra Perera.”

Courtesy:The Island