GOTA HAILS CHINA’S SUPPORT IN SAFEGUARDINGSL’SSOVEREIGNTY
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed the appreciation of the Sri Lankan Government for the firm and consistent support of the Chinese Government in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly at international fora.
Addressing a gathering as the Guest of Honour at the celebration of the 55th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Sri Lanka and China, earlier this week, Mr. Rajapaksa said the close cooperation, respect and friendship between Sri Lanka and China will continue to grow as Sri Lanka builds on the foundations of peace to achieve prosperity for its people through economic transformation in which China remains a trusted development partner.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda said that China has become the largest development partner of Sri Lanka while trade between the two countries has increased by 152% and tourism by 47% when compared with the year 2010.
The Chinese Government representative at the event Minister for Industrial and Information Technology of China Miao Wei said, China believed that under the lead- ership of the President of Sri Lanka the country would make steady progress. China would like to continue to provide assistance to help the economic and social development of Sri Lanka. The Minister was confident that the friendship between Sri Lanka and China would last forever.