China was ready to work with Sri Lanka to lift the bilateral
relations into a new high, said a senior official with the
Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing Wednesday.
Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political
Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting
with a delegation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
China and Sri Lanka enjoy long-term history of friendly
exchanges, Wu said, noting that since forging diplomatic ties 49
years ago, the two nations have witnessed fruitful cooperation in
politics, economy and culture, and the two peoples have established
profound friendship.
Next year would mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment
of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic ties, and also the year of China-Sri
Lanka friendship.
"China would take this as an opportunity to join in Sri Lanka to
enrich the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between
the two nations," Wu noted.
Wu expressed his appreciation for Sri Lanka's firm support to
China in the issues concerning Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.
Speaking highly of the China-Sri Lanka party-to-party relations,
Wu said the CPC always attached great importance to the relations
with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and was ready to increase
exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, in an effort to
push for the China-Sri Lanka relations.
Wu also briefed the guests on China's current economic and
social situation.
Head of the delegation Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, vice-president
of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and also Minister of Information and
Media of Sri Lanka, praised the traditional friendship between the
two nations.
Yapa expressed appreciation for China's assistance to Sri
Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Sri Lanka government would
firmly adhere to one-China policy, Yapa said, hoping that the two
parties would further increase their friendly exchanges, so as to
make contribution to the development of Sri Lanka-China
relations.
Yapa and his delegation were here on a visit to China from
October 19 to 28 as guests of the CPC.
Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC
Central Committee, also met with Yapa on Wednesday. The two sides
exchanged views on party-to-party relations.
(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2006)
