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* ‘Political Documents’ to be issued, 20 agreements in various fields
With the first Chinese leader in 28 years due here today, China has leapfrogged to become Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner and source of imports next to India.
Describing President Xi Jinping’s two day state visit as historic the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo Wu Jianghao said yesterday that it indicated the significance of bilateral relations built on a solid platform and nurtured at a healthy momentum.
The two sides would issue ‘Political Documents’ and sign a total of 20 agreements to promote exchanges in fields such as the economy, trade, investment, infrastructure as well as people to people and cultural exchanges, he revealed.
"China has become Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner and source of imports. We also share mutual understanding and support on issues related to each others’ core interests and major concerns and coordinate and cooperate in international and regional affairs," Wu Jianghao said, recalling that in 2013 the two countries upgraded their relationship to a strategic cooperative partnership of sincerity, mutual assistance and everlasting friendship.
He noted that President Jinping was scheduled to hold talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa,Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to take stock of the development of bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation. The Ambassador did not rule out meetings with members of Opposition parties including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
"Our Presidents agenda does not include the signing of any more coal power projects," he observed in response to a question while
assuring that there would be no more ‘unusual’ breakdowns at the Norchcholai Coal-fired Power Plant (NCPP) once a two-year technical service agreement with provision for extension was signed between the Ceylon Electricity Board and constructor of the Plant, China Machinery Engineering Corporation, today.
The third and final phase of the NCPP is scheduled to be declared open today under the patronage of the Chinese leader and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
One of the highlights of Xi Jinping’s visit, the Chinese envoy said would be the finalisation of the Port City Project. The Ambassador stressed that it would be an investment and not a loan by China Harbour which would be partnered by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The first phase of the project was estimated to cost USD 1.4 billion and the second phase USD 13 billion, he said.
Once an area encompassing 276 hectares was reclaimed from the sea, China Harbour would own one third of it, while two thirds would be handed over to the SLPA. China Harbour would invest in developing the land owned by it while it was up to the Sri Lankan government to attract investments locally as well as from abroad to develop the remaining two thirds of reclaimed land, the ambassador said, noting that other Chinese companies might invest in the land owned by the SLPA.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations China and Sri Lanka had always maintained a momentum of healthy and stable development and become a model of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small countries, Wu Jianghao added.
by Zacki Jabbar
Describing President Xi Jinping’s two day state visit as historic the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo Wu Jianghao said yesterday that it indicated the significance of bilateral relations built on a solid platform and nurtured at a healthy momentum.
The two sides would issue ‘Political Documents’ and sign a total of 20 agreements to promote exchanges in fields such as the economy, trade, investment, infrastructure as well as people to people and cultural exchanges, he revealed.
"China has become Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner and source of imports. We also share mutual understanding and support on issues related to each others’ core interests and major concerns and coordinate and cooperate in international and regional affairs," Wu Jianghao said, recalling that in 2013 the two countries upgraded their relationship to a strategic cooperative partnership of sincerity, mutual assistance and everlasting friendship.
He noted that President Jinping was scheduled to hold talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa,Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to take stock of the development of bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation. The Ambassador did not rule out meetings with members of Opposition parties including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
"Our Presidents agenda does not include the signing of any more coal power projects," he observed in response to a question while
The third and final phase of the NCPP is scheduled to be declared open today under the patronage of the Chinese leader and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
One of the highlights of Xi Jinping’s visit, the Chinese envoy said would be the finalisation of the Port City Project. The Ambassador stressed that it would be an investment and not a loan by China Harbour which would be partnered by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The first phase of the project was estimated to cost USD 1.4 billion and the second phase USD 13 billion, he said.
Once an area encompassing 276 hectares was reclaimed from the sea, China Harbour would own one third of it, while two thirds would be handed over to the SLPA. China Harbour would invest in developing the land owned by it while it was up to the Sri Lankan government to attract investments locally as well as from abroad to develop the remaining two thirds of reclaimed land, the ambassador said, noting that other Chinese companies might invest in the land owned by the SLPA.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations China and Sri Lanka had always maintained a momentum of healthy and stable development and become a model of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small countries, Wu Jianghao added.
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