PRESIDENT REITERATES SUPPORT TO ONE CHINA POLICY AND CHINA’S POSITION ON TAIWAN ISSUE
President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated Sri Lanka’s unswerving support to the One China policy and China’s position concerning the Taiwan issue on global arenas, a statement from the Chinese Embassy said.
Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan called upon President Sirisena recently to exchange views on China-sri Lanka relations and joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The statement said President Sirisena stressed that the friendship between the two countries dated back to ancient times. The tremendous assistance provided by China to the economic and social development of this island nation is highly appreciated by the Sri Lankan government and its people. Furthermore, China’s continuous support is indispensable for Sri Lanka to realize its future development and make itself a new economic centre of the Indian Ocean Region,” the statement said.
The President highlighted that Sri Lanka strongly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and attaches great importance to the joint megaprojects of Colombo Port City as well as the Hambantota Port and Industrial Park. Instructions have been given to concerned government departments by the President’s Office to accelerate the resolution of specific issues and make solid progress in the projects.
President Sirisena expressed his objective to attract more investment and assistance from China for Sri Lanka’s economic development as well as its people’s livelihood. The President looks forward to the early groundbreaking of the National Nephropathy Specialist Hospital assisted by the Chinese side to relieve the pain of local patients.
Responding to the baseless suspicion on so-called Chinese militarization at Hambantota Port raised by some foreign media recently, the President emphasized that China as a sincere friend always reaches out with a helping hand when Sri Lanka was facing difficulties. The handing over of Hambantota Port after its long-term unsuccessful operation is another fresh example. The two countries’ friendly cooperation in Hambantota Port is focusing on economic development without any other hidden agenda.
Ambassador Cheng stressed that China attaches great importance to its friendly relations with Sri Lanka and is willing to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. Based on the golden principles of “Consultation, Contribution and Shared Benefits”, China will actively promote Sinosl pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to benefit the two countries and peoples. It is believed that under the joint efforts of both sides, especially under the personal guidance of President Sirisena, megaprojects of the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Comprehensive Development Project would rapidly develop so as to help the island country realize its development dream.
Ambassador Cheng opposed any ungrounded speculation on military purpose of the joint projects, warned of the danger that certain external forces are trying to attack the joint operation of the two sides in Hambantota as well as the friendly bilateral relations. China is willing to support Sri Lanka in developing its economy and improving its people’s livelihood.