Era of flourishing cooperation between China, Sri Lanka
I am grateful for the opportunity to undertake a State visit to the People's Republic of China in this "China-Sri Lanka Friendship Year," commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Our relations over the last half-century have remained firm, deep and consistent and have now extended into many areas of cooperation. These have been greatly facilitated by several high-level visits exchanged between the two countries.
Our economic relations have progressed at all levels, at the State level as well as with the non-State corporate sector. They now cover infrastructure development as well which is an essential part of Sri Lanka's development process and my own vision for our future. The number of tourists from China to Sri Lanka has also increased by over 60 percent in 2006 over 2005, further strengthening people-to-people contacts and understanding.
Religious and cultural interactions have always remained deep. In the fifth century, the Chinese monk, Fa Xian, spent two years in our country studying Buddhist texts, and religious exchanges have continued through the centuries.
At the international and regional level, China and Sri Lanka have consulted closely. We have promoted the positions of developing countries and have maintained resolute opposition to the three evils of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
My State visit to China this year and numerous other activities planned to take place in our two countries will certainly consolidate our relations further. They will also help identify new areas of cooperation in a relationship, which has been described by our leaders as an "all-around cooperation partnership of sincere mutual support and everlasting friendship."
Excerpts from congratulations by President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa
(China Daily 02/27/2007 page19)
