Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister
Mangala Samaraweera issued a joint press communiqué in Beijing on
Saturday evening.
The joint press communiqué said at the invitation of Li,
Samaraweera paid an official visit to China from July 12 to 16.
Samaraweera called on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and held
in-depth talks with Li.
Samaraweera also met with Li Shenglin, minister of
communications, Yu Guangzhou, vice minister of commerce, Shao
Qiwei, chairman of China National Tourism Administration, Li Ruogu,
president of the Export-Import Bank of China and Yuan Xingpei,
chairman of China-Sri Lanka Friendship Group of China's National
People's Congress.
Samaraweera delivered a speech entitled "Future Orientations in
China-Sri Lanka Relations in the Context of the Evolving Political
and Economic Development of China" at China Institute of
International Studies.
The joint communiqué said during the meetings, the two sides
exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and
international issues of mutual interest.
The two sides re-affirmed that China-Sri Lanka relations have
enjoyed healthy and smooth growth on the basis of the Five
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence since the establishment of
diplomatic relations 49 years ago.
The two countries have steadily increased mutual political
trust, carried out fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and
exchanged frequent visits at various levels, according to the
communiqué.
In April 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Sri Lanka. The two countries
proclaimed the establishment of an All-round Cooperative
Partnership featuring sincere mutual support and everlasting
friendship.
It marked a new stage of growth in China-Sri Lanka relations,
said the communiqué. Former President of Sri Lanka Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunge visited China in August 2005.
The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the progress made in
bilateral exchanges and cooperation in political affairs, economy
and trade, culture, tourism and other areas as well as their good
cooperation in regional and international affairs, said the
communiqué.
The two sides agreed to keep the momentum of high-level visits.
The Chinese side welcomed a visit to China by H.E.Mahinda
Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, in 2007. The specific time of
the visit would be decided upon through diplomatic channels,
bearing in mind that diplomatic relations were formally established
on February 7 of 1957.
The two sides decided that, as the year 2007 marks the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two
countries, it will be declared the Year of China-Sri Lanka
Friendship.
The two sides agreed to hold a number of commemorative
activities in each other's country to promote mutual understanding
between the two peoples and strengthen their traditional
friendship, details of which would be discussed between the Foreign
Ministries and Embassies concerned, said the communiqué.
The two sides emphasized that expanded economic and trade
cooperation would be conducive to the common progress and
prosperity of the people of the two countries and that bilateral
economic cooperation including cooperation in trade and investment
should be further strengthened.
The two sides expressed readiness to enhance friendly exchanges
in technical development and training, energy exploration, tourism,
education, cultural and religious affairs, youth exchanges and in
the academic field, and to seek new ways to deepen cooperation in
these fields, based on agreements already signed.
The communiqué said the two sides welcomed increased
participation by Chinese enterprises in infrastructure and
development projects in Sri Lanka. Consultations were held to work
out mutually acceptable facilities for financing of such projects
on favorable terms and expediting their implementation.
The communiqué said the priority projects are the coal power
project in Puttalam, the airport-city of Colombo highway, and the
Harbor and Oil Storage bunkering port of Hambantota.
Samaraweera thanked the Chinese side for providing assistance
for tsunami relief to Sri Lanka. The Chinese side expressed
readiness to provide aid for Sri Lanka's economic and social
development to the best of its ability, according to the
communiqué.
Sri Lanka allocated an exploration block in the Mannar Basin to
China for exploration of petroleum resources which was appreciated,
said the communiqué.
The joint press communiqué said the two sides emphasized that
China and Sri Lanka shared extensive common interests in regional
and international affairs, and agreed to consult one another and
enhance coordination in this regard.
The Sri Lankan side welcomed China's status as an observer of
the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and
would continue to promote cooperation between China and SAARC, said
the communiqué.
The Chinese side appreciated Sri Lanka's stand and reiterated
its readiness to conduct exchanges and cooperation with SAARC on
the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
The Chinese side expressed support for Sri Lanka's participation
in regional and sub-regional cooperation, according to the
communiqué.
The two sides agreed to continue coordinate their positions on
the reform of the United Nations and the Security Council. Both
sides maintained that Asian countries should deepen mutual
understanding, strengthen solidarity and enhance cooperation in
order to ensure that the next Secretary-General of the United
Nations will be from Asia.
The communiqué said the Sri Lankan side reiterated that there is
but one China, that the Government of the People's Republic of
China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China
and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese
territory.
Sri Lanka reiterated that it opposes "Taiwan independence" in
whatever form, and will not have any official contacts with Taiwan.
Sri Lanka stressed for all efforts made by the Chinese Government
to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and
China's early reunification, said the communiqué.
The Chinese side highly appreciated this position of Sri
Lanka.
Samaraweera briefed the Chinese side on the peace process of Sri
Lanka. The Chinese side reaffirmed that it would continue to
support Sri Lanka in its efforts to defeat terrorism and to
safeguard the sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity
of the country.
The two sides reaffirmed their opposition to the three evil
forces of Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism and discussed
measures to increase their consultation and coordination in
regional and international anti-terrorism activities.
The communiqué said Samaraweera thanked the Chinese side for the
warm hospitality accorded him during his visit and extended an
invitation to Li to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time.
Li accepted the invitation with pleasure.
(XInhua News Agency July 16, 2006)