CHINA ASSURES SRI LANKA THAT
IT WILL HELP THE TROUBLED ISLAND NATION TO WIPE OUT TERRORISM
By Walter Jayawardhana
President Mahinda Rajapaksa with President
Hu Jintao
Asia’s greatest military power, the People’s Republic of
China assured her South Asian friend Sri Lanka that it will stand by
the troubled island nation and help it to wipe out terrorism.
At Yalong Bay resort in the Hainan Province of China President Hu Jintao
of the people’s Republic of China told Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa that his country will standby Sri Lanka in its relentless
effort to counter terrorism.
The two leaders met each other for the second time in 14 months indicating
the increasingly strengthening bond between the two nations and China
turning into a major partner in the development of Sri Lanka.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa immensely thanked the Chinese government
for tremendously helping Norochcholai Coal Power Project, the Hambantota
Port and the Performing Arts Theatre in Colombo, few projects China
is bankrolling in the island nation. President Rajapaksa is in China
to attend the Annual Conference of the Boa Forum for Asia.
President Hu Jintao thanked Sri Lanka for continuously following a one
china policy and this unshaken principle, he said, has stood as a test
for the long standing friendship. The Chinese President described the
unfortunate incidents that took place regarding Tibet and thanked Sri
Lanka for seeing the troubles in its proper context.
President Rajapaksa wished every success to the Olympics Games that
are to be held in China later this year, and stated that Sri Lanka was
proud that China will be hosting this important international sports
event.
President Hu Jintao while appreciating the good wishes expressed by
the Sri Lankan President for the Beijing Olympics stated that China
will be sending a high level delegation as observers to the SAARC Summit
to be held in Sri Lanka later this year.
On the development of investment opportunities, the Sri Lankan President
invited Chinese investors to take advantage of the good potential that
prevails in Sri Lanka as a target for investment in the region.
In discussing cultural links between the two countries, the Chinese
President reiterated China's agreement to assist in the establishment
of the proposed International Buddhist Zone, at Piliyandala.
President Rajapaksa renewed the invitation to the Chinese President
to visit Sri Lanka, to which President Hu Jintao said he looked forward
to a visit at a mutually convenient time.
The President of China expressed his good wishes to the Sri Lankan
President and the Sri Lankan people for the forthcoming traditional
Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
|
