Chinese president meets president of Sri Lanka

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-07 19:51

BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Thursday with President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse, who is here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other activities.

Hu first extended a warm welcome to Rajapakse on behalf of the Chinese government and people, saying he still clearly remembered the amicable meeting with Rajapakse during the annual session of the Boao Forum for Asia, held in April in Hainan of China.

After China's Sichuan Province was rocked by a powerful earthquake in May, the Sri Lankan president not only sent a letter of condolence to China, but also went to the Chinese embassy in Colombo to mourn the Chinese victims, Hu recalled.

"And I was told that you also plan to go to the quake zone on Saturday. All these have displayed the friendly emotions of the Sri Lankan people toward the Chinese people. We are grateful for that," Hu said.

China and Sri Lanka have set a good example for friendly cooperation between two countries with different national conditions and different social systems, said Hu.

President Rajapakse congratulated China on the hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games, adding that he also felt proud of it as an Asian.

Sri Lanka thanks China for its long-time support and assistance, and hopes that the two sides could further enhance cooperation in trade and economic fields as well as in personnel training, said the president.