China defends envoy’s comments over Chinese loans
Posted on November 8th, 2016
Adaderana
November 8, 2016 06:13 pm
The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka exchanged views with friends from the media on China-Sri Lanka relations and the status quo of bilateral cooperation and clarified some misunderstandings and misleading remarks regarding China-Sri Lanka cooperation at a seminar,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
The candid exchange of views on relevant cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is conducive to the sound development of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation as they are good friends that trust and help each other,” Kang said, in a written response to PTI on a question over reports about the controversy stirred up by Chinese envoy to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang’s remarks.
Reports from Colombo said that Sri Lanka may summon Yi to convey Colombo’s displeasure over his remarks.
Yi reportedly refuted criticism that China has granted hefty loans to Sri Lanka during the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa government with higher interest rates and asked why Sri Lanka always turns to China if the interest is high as claimed by some Sri Lankan ministers.
Yi was quoted as saying that China has regular, or fixed interest ratio of two per cent for any developing country and not only for Sri Lanka.
If you don’t like this one, why you come again, to talk with me about another one,” he asked reportedly referring to criticism from Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake who said Chinese loans carried higher interest rates.
Responding to Yi’s comments Karunanayake said If he says they have not given loans with interest more than two percent we are happy – because then we have only have to pay two per cent then”.
The reports said besides defending Chinese loans, Yi also criticised the slow progress of some Chinese-funded projects.
The Chinese do not get involved in local politics and will work with the government in power. The Chinese firms have not bribed Sri Lankans to do business in the country,” he said last week adding that China has no hidden agenda in Sri Lanka and conducts its affairs with the government in an open and transparent manner”.
Commenting on the suspension of work in the port city project in Colombo after the government of President Maithripala Sirisena came to power to investigate the irregularities, Yi said this had caused a loss of USD 140 million to the Chinese company involved.
The work on the USD 1.4 billion project was subsequently resumed after the new government renegotiated the terms.
Source: PTI
-Agencies
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November 8th, 2016 at 5:09 pm
The highly irresponsible UNP regime is digging its own grave. We are already in an economic, export and foreign debt crisis. The current spat with China probably at the insistence of India will worsen it. The JO must capitalise on this.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Indeed, the Yamapalanaya is digging it’s own grave getting China angry at them.
The Chinese are smart; they won’t confuse the Sinhala Buddhist majority of Sri Lanka with these goons who have usurped power via the backdoor!
China has invited MR to vist China soon, and MR has accepted. Hopefully China will help MR restore a patriotic government to our country via the ballot box.
November 8th, 2016 at 6:58 pm
Did you vote Uncle Sam? Democ-rats always win in CA.
China does NOT believe in the BALLOT BOX. There are NO ballot boxes in China. So IF China helps MR get back to power that will NOT be through the RIGGED BALLOT BOX aka the IDIOT BOX.
Karunkaya can pay 13% interest on Mahendran’s bonds but can’t pay 3% for China.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Lorenzo the EELAMIST agitator,
Maybe you have not been reading my criticisms of Billary and my support for Donald Trump. Or maybe you are still shoveling your horse manure of disinformation as usual!
Thus election is going to be much closer than those Democ-rats predicted, and may even be a stunning Trump victory!
And maybe, just maybe, that Sri Lanka will be spared the UNMITIGATED DISASTER of a Billary Clinton US Presidency!
November 8th, 2016 at 8:14 pm
1. But but Uncle Sam, China doesn’t believe in the BALLOT BOX. Do they?
2. Whoever you support LOSES. Can’t you remember in 2015? CA goes to HILARIOUS and that makes her WIN. Game over. IF you want RUMP to win support HILARIOUS.
So do you STILL believe in the ballot box to deliver the RIGHT VERDICT? Get real. Ballot box is a BRITISH LEFTOVER. Look at other British leftovers.
So BIDEN will be the next president. I cracked a coconut wishing HILARIOUS seta poicha before January 20.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:14 pm
Even as the US Presidential election results ROLL IN, I see a BREXIT happening in the USA and Donald Trump on his way to a resounding win!
Next step, O Sinhalayeni …. is to follow suit …. and DUMP the Yamapalanaya from the Parliament into the DUSTBIN!
November 8th, 2016 at 8:20 pm
You said the same thing on January 9 in 2015. But when the results came you had lost.
January 9 results release kept Jaffna for the last. Maru Sira killed it and won the election.
November 9 results release keeps CA last. When results come HILARIOUS CLITORIS will win.
WE have to get ready to live under BIDEN the next president.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Lorenzo,
Whatever political process prevails in China, the Ballot Box must sway in Sri Lanka.
We only need China’s help to massage the Yamapalanaya towards the Ballot Box without delaying elections, or to defeat the Yamapalanaya in Parliament, and force a change of the governing party and the PM.
Don’t get hung up on insignificant details Eelamist, focus on the bigger picture!
November 8th, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Dispite confident prediction by Lankaweb pundits Trump is winning at the moment ( at least a good fight).
If he wins, it is a good lesson for MR&Co aggitators to go with outright Sinhala Nationalism. Remove 13A, No Muslim pampering, look after soldiers , look after Sinhalaya , No multifaith nonsence , don’t kill those who oppse you and be honest to people. !
November 8th, 2016 at 9:29 pm
TRUMP wins 301 to 237!!
Well done TRUMP.
HILARIOUS CLITORIS LOST again!
So what happened to TAMILS FOR CLINTON?
What happened to Tamils cracking coco-nuts?
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
November 8th, 2016 at 10:04 pm
Sivajilingam bathing Siva Lingam in coconut milk to invoke the Hindu Dieties to help Billary Clinton to the Presidency notwithstanding, Donal Trump is ROMPING HOME to a resounding victory!
Perhaps the HATARAWARAN GUARDIAN DIETIES of Sri Lanka has TRUMPED Sivajilingam’s Gods!
Yo, Sivajilingam! It is time to pack your bags and flee for REFUGE to Little Jaffna in Toronto, Canada!
The Clinton Foundation has spent ALL of the money the Tamil Diaspora contributed on LOSING the ELECTION!
YAHOO!
November 9th, 2016 at 4:04 am
IF you want RUMP to win support HILARIOUS.
Sivajilingam well done !!!
November 9th, 2016 at 4:34 am
Yes, Ranil Wickramasinghe must resign immediately. This is the honourable thing to do. The country should be run by a PM who holds the confidence of most people. This is very important. Someone else who holds the confidence of the people should be appointed the PM by President Sirisena. Besides, Arjunan Mahendran did say the PM, meaning Ranil, asked him to do it. Therefore he should resign immediately which is the honourable thing to do and let any investigations take place without any interference. In other countries, this is what happens after this type of incident. So it is not at all unique.