President Sirisena completes successful state visit to China

During Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s state visit to China – which ends today after he arrived there on 25 March – he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhang Dejiang.
This was President Sirisena’s first visit to China as President and comes within three months of his election.
At bilateral talks held on 26 March, the two countries’ Presidents engaged in an informal exchange of views on a broad range of issues of mutual interest covering bilateral political relations, economic cooperation including inter alia development cooperation, trade, investment and tourism, cultural cooperation and people-to-people contacts.

President Sirisena welcomed the keen interest demonstrated by China to engage with the new Sri Lanka Government. He briefed President Jinping on the new Government’s policy and the mandate given to him by the people of Sri Lanka on 8 January 2015 to restore good governance, the rule of law and democracy, and progress with regard to the Government’s 100-day work program, including proposed constitutional reforms.
President Sirisena indicated that his Government had drawn inspiration from President Jinping’s own campaign in eradicating corruption and promoting good governance. The Sri Lankan leader also informed the Chinese President that the new Government would proceed with a transparent and genuine process of national reconciliation and consolidate peace and human rights within the country, and would work in partnership with the international community towards this end.

 
The two leaders reiterated the view that Sri Lanka and China were friends whose relations spanned centuries and had stood the test of time. They reaffirmed that their strong bonds of friendship were founded on mutual respect, understanding and shared cultural values.
President Sirisena reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding the One China policy which had been a consistent position in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy.
The two leaders reiterated their shared adherence to the five principles of Peaceful Coexistence or Pancha Sheela. President Sirisena reiterated Sri Lanka’s deep appreciation of China’s steadfast support in its battle to defeat terrorism as well as to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both sides agreed that the historic state visit of the Chinese President to Sri Lanka in September 2014 had consolidated the cooperative partnership between the two countries, and that they would make joint efforts to enhance substantive cooperation to elevate bilateral relations.
The Lankan President also revealed that his country shared China’s interest in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road for greater economic cooperation. President Sirisena expressed his willingness to explore this concept which Sri Lanka viewed as a road of friendship, economic cooperation and cultural and social exchange in a new, inclusive and connected world.

China-Lanka FTA
The two leaders agreed to work towards the successful conclusion of the proposed China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is under negotiation and has the potential to set in motion a new chapter in bilateral trade and economic relations.
President Sirisena signalled Sri Lanka’s interest in seeing genuine progress on the FTA – while recognising the differences between the two economies – and achieving more balanced and sustainable bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The two sides agreed to convene the third round of negotiations on the FTA in the near future.
The two leaders agreed to consider ways and means of enhancing future development cooperation between their countries. President Sirisena acknowledged the contribution Chinese development assistance had made to Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic prosperity and welcomed assistance in priority sectors identified by the Government.
He expressed his deep appreciation to the Chinese Government for the grant assistance to establish a hospital, a special laboratory and a modern pharmaceutical laboratory institute for the research and treatment of the Chronic Kidney Disease in Sri Lanka, an acute health problem affecting many segments of the country’s population and therefore warranting high-level remedial action.
In this context he also welcomed the proposed cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Science and the Ministry of Urban Development of Sri Lanka to undertake a scientific study of waterways in Sri Lanka to detect possible causes of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology, as well as to ensure the safety of drinking water through joint efforts.
President Sirisena also welcomed the assistance provided by China in the fields of public health, trade and commerce, agriculture and human resource development. In this regard, five MoUs were signed during the visit on cooperation for special aid in public health, development of water treatment methods and technology in kidney disease affected areas, research and development of the coconut industry and the refurbishment of the Superior Courts Complex in Sri Lanka.
Sirisena also welcomed the offer by China of 2,000 training opportunities for young scientists from Sri Lanka in the next five years as well as further promotion of cultural exchange and Chinese language training in Sri Lanka.
President Sirisena welcomed China’s expanding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) portfolio in Sri Lanka and China’s resolve to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka. He indicated that his Government was in the process of making the business and investment climate in Sri Lanka more favourable by instituting reforms that ensured transparency and the rule of law.

 
Tourism partnership
The two leaders welcomed the acceleration of cooperation between the two countries in the tourism industry and agreed to continue their cooperation in order to realise its full potential. They were encouraged by the significant and steady increase in tourist arrivals from China to Sri Lanka during the last several years. Sirisena said that he appreciated the support provided by the Chinese Government in promoting Sri Lanka as an attractive tourist destination in China and said that China had been identified as a priority source country for Sri Lanka’s tourist market.

President Jinping welcomed Sri Lanka’s acceptance of China’s invitation to become a founding member of the Asian Investment and Infrastructure Development Bank (AAIB).
The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation at regional and multilateral forums. President Sirisena expressed his appreciation of China’s steadfast support to Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council. He also praised China’s role in regional groups committed to building peace and stability, adding that Sri Lanka valued China’s involvement with SAARC as an observer.
The two leaders also expressed mutual satisfaction that this high-level visit would signal the strengthening of already close and mutual beneficial relations. As modern nations, Sri Lanka and China had forged a bilateral relationship which had been a model of how, despite differences in power, size and population, principles of equality and mutual respect had bound the two countries together.
Following the end of his official visit, President Sirisena will participate in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2015 on 28 March in Boao in Hainan Province where, upon the invitation of President Jinping, he will join other world leaders and the global business community.
The Boao Forum for Asia Conference places the world’s leaders and global business community on a common platform for constructive dialogue. The President is due to address the Boao Forum for Asia Conference on the theme of ‘Asia’s new future: Towards a community of common destiny’.
President Sirisena was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Rauff Hakeem, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Jagath Pushpakumara, Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Chitranganee Wagiswara, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda and senior officials from the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing.