China, Sri Lanka join hands for peaceful Maritime Silk Road cooperation
The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) organised a high-level seminar on cooperation between Sri Lanka and China, to advance the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative in Colombo, yesterday.
It was recognised that the underlying rationale for MSR initiative was to generate inclusive development through win-win cooperation, enhance mutual trust and promote friendship among the regional countries so as to make contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia. It was also agreed that the implementation of the MSR initiative should be based on the principles of mutual respect and sovereign equality among regional countries.
Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation and Senior Advisor to the President, Milinda Moragoda speaks with External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. (Extreme right) Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong is also present
There was consensus that considerable potential exists to improve transport connectivity as a major objective of the MSR in order to improve economic integration within the Asian region for the benefit of its people.
There was also agreement that the MSR provides a robust framework for promoting trade and investment among countries of the region as a means of fulfilling the potential of Asian countries in the 21st Century.
It was acknowledged that the MSR created a conducive environment for taking advantage of historical, cultural and social ties among regional countries to promote people-to-people contacts, including tourism.
Participants from both sides also recognised that the MSR could strengthen the conditions for taking greater advantage of the China-Sri Lanka Strategic Partnership by yielding considerable benefits for Sri Lanka’s development prospects. Sri Lanka’s geographic location being equidistant from East Asia, the Middle East and Africa is particularly significant in this respect.
It was highlighted that the MSR concept is complementary with Sri Lanka’s ‘Mahinda Chintara’, which focuses, inter alia, on maritime and commercial hubs.
China’s former Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan (L) with External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris
It was recognised that there is considerable scope to take advantage of the connectivity facilitated by the MSR to maximise trade and investment opportunities, which will be created by the Free Trade Agreement being negotiated between the two countries.
It was agreed that considerable potential exists for cooperation in the areas of maritime connectivity, fisheries, marine research, marine environmental protection and disaster management.
The two sides agreed to implement follow-up action to explore ways and means of translating the MSR initiative to practical outcomes in trade liberalisation and facilitation, infrastructure development and industrial parks.
It is also proposed to conduct studies on selected sectors of mutual interest, mount missions committed to trade expansion and investment promotion as well as science and technology exchanges.
It was also agreed that the Pathfinder Foundation and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) would work closely with each other to follow up on the outcomes contained in the press release.
The high-level Chinese delegation was led by Zeng Peiyan, former Vice Premier of the State Council of China and the Vice Chairman of the BFA Board, accompanied by Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary General of the BFA and CCIEE CEO Zhang Xiaoqiang.
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Investment Promotion Minister Lakshaman Yapa Abeywardena, , Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Faiszer Mustapha and Founder, Pathfinder Foundation and Senior Advisor to the President, Milinda Moragoda also participated in the deliberations.
It was recognised that the bilateral arrangements and agreements between Sri Lanka and China have laid good ground for the implementation of the MSR.
Both sides expressed the wish that the joint efforts by the two countries could set a good bilateral example for advancing the MSR process. While in Colombo, Zeng Peiyan called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.
Pix by Daminda Harsha Perera
