Sri Lanka supports stable maritime environment in Asia: Mangala at CICA

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, in his address to the CICA Conference in Beijing, China, said Sri Lanka, as an island nation with a long history of maritime trade, supports a stable maritime environment in Asia, including the right of maritime passage, and unimpeded commerce in accordance with international law.

He said , “At the outset, I would like to congratulate the People’s Republic of China on the excellent arrangements made for this summit and the warm hospitality, we also congratulate President Xi Jinping for his dynamic leadership over the last two years and thank Foreign Minister Wang Yi for organizing and chairing this Summit.

We congratulate President Xi Jinping for his dynamic leadership over the last two years and thank Foreign Minister Wang Yi for organizing and chairing this Summit

CICA is the largest and most representative regional security forum with the largest number of participants. Under China’s chairmanship CICA has demonstrated renewed vigour and is becoming an increasingly important and valuable forum for addressing issues of security and confidence-building.

This is now the 5th CICA Summit and the challenges and opportunities Asia faces are greater than ever before. At no point since the mid – 19th Century has Asia been as important in the world as it is today. Connectivity, interaction and mutual dependence in Asia and between Asia and the rest of the world are at unprecedented levels.

But as economic grow th

At the outset, I would like to congratulate the People’s Republic of China on the excellent arrangements made for this summit and the warm hospitality.

becomes dearer and our newly prosperous citizens have different priorities and experiences, the challenge for Asia’s governments is ensuring that mutual dependence leads to comprehensive security and regional stability. Critical in this process is guarding the integrity of public goods that have so successfully ensured the joint prosperity of Asia during this period.

We recognize the need to promote sustained dialogue at all levels, peacefully dispute resolutions under international law, international cooperation for the sustainable use of living resources of the high seas as well as mutually beneficial sharing of seabed resources located in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Sri Lanka also reiterates the importance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence which were first articulated at the Colombo Powers Conference in Colombo.”

We recognize the need to promote sustained dialogue at all levels, peacefully dispute resolutions under international law.