China avoids commenting on Lankan crisis saying it’s an internal matter
Posted on October 29th, 2018
Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Beijing, October 29 (newsin.asia): China on Monday said the changes in Sri Lanka are its internal affairs and it believes that the Sri Lankan government, political parties and people have enough wisdom to deal with the internal situation.
Asked about China’s stand on the current political crisis in Sri Lanka considering that Beijing has made huge investments in that country, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said:
China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbors. We are closely following the changes in the situation in Sri Lanka. The changes in Sri Lanka are internal affairs. We believe the Sri Lankan Government, political parties and people have enough wisdom to deal with the internal situation,” he said.
China, he said will always follow the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries.
On the question about the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan meeting both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe, Lu said: We have maintained communication with relevant political parties in Sri Lanka. Chinese Ambassador met Wickremesinghe and the new Prime Minister and exchanged views on bilateral relations with the two.”
The reference Rajapaksa as new Prime Minister” by the spokesman was seen as significant by observers considering that Wickremesinghe maintains that he is still the Prime Minister.
(The featured image at the top shows Lu Kang, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry)