China will assist Lanka when needed – Chinese PM
China is committed to strengthening the friendship with Sri Lanka and will extend its fullest support in all necessary situations to Sri Lanka in international fora, said Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
He said this during a bilateral meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Prime Minister’s residence in Beijing yesterday.
Expressing his gratitude for the Chinese assistance for the number of ongoing projects in Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa apprised the Chinese Prime Minister about the post-conflict developments in the country and the government’s commitment to carry out major infrastructure development to ensure balanced economic progress in all regions.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao praised the government’s ability to complete the first phase of the Hambantota port and said his government is willing to provide financial assistance for the construction of the second phase of the port. President Rajapaksa and the Chinese Prime Minister also discussed the Norochcholai power plant constructed with Chinese aid and ways and means to increase the number of flights between the capitals of the two countries.
Much to learn from China on path to economic progress – President
“When considering the relationship between economic development and social equality, it is clear that the former should be achieved by seeking better understanding between the cultures and traditions of the people of a country and their future expectations. I believe we can learn much from China in this regard,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday when he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Beijing Foreign Studies University.
The citation of the Doctorate stated that it was awarded for fostering peace and reconciliation within the country and the world, creating an environment in which all the communities can live in harmony and strengthening friendship and understanding between Sri Lanka and China.
The President acclaimed the contribution made by China as a dominant economic power to the development of many countries including Sri Lanka.
“China is also engaged in considerable work on infrastructure development in many parts of the country, that contribute to the rapid economic development that we seek to achieve after the successful defeat of terrorism,” he said.
“I must also record here the deep gratitude of the people of Sri Lanka to China for their commitment to support Sri Lanka in the battle against terrorism that we concluded with success; and for the assistance given for reconstruction and resettlement in the former conflict zone in our country,” the President added. He elaborated on the long links that have existed between Sri Lanka and China which date back to the 4th Century.
Having mentioned the development of the relations between the two countries which were influenced by Buddhism and East-West trade, President Rajapaksa noted the significance of the Rubber-Rice Pact in 1952 that resulted in a great boost.
“It is worth recalling that Sri Lanka signed this pact despite much opposition from our former colonial rulers and the countries of the West that were opposed to the People’s Republic of China,” he added.
Later, the newly built Sri Lanka Research Centre at Beijing Foreign Studies University was opened by President Rajapaksa. He was also conferred the honorary lifetime presidency of the Research Centre by Chancellor of the University Prof Chen Yulu.
The measures taken by President Rajapaksa are instrumental not only in improving the standard of education in China and Sri Lanka, but also creating world peace, Prof Yulu said. The President met the Chinese students studying Sinhala language at the university. He also planted a tree within the university premises as a token of the friendship between China and Sri Lanka.
The event was attended by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and MP Sajin Vas Gunawardena.
Courtesy: Daily News
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I welcome heartily the stronger ties with China, our dear friend, along with Russia, in keeping imperial West mad dogs and our traditional enemy India from suppressing SL from fast-track economic growth.
I would have been even happier if Hon President had discussed and signed DEFENCE TIES with China and joint DEFENCE EXERCISES in Indian waters around SL to send a strong message to India and imperial West not to entertain ideas of ‘invasion’ of SL. There had been a report of US invasion of SL airspace recently. Is this a prelude to an actual invasion with India, as they have done in Iraq and Libya, to eliminate governments US and the imperial West mad dogs hate, as not co-operating with US agenda for world domination?
More loans for dud projects at double the commercial lending rate!
Welocme, the nawa neo-colonialists!!!
China is a rising star. SL is hitched to this rising star. We will also expand and rise with China. In China, where there were slums and dilapidated housing, there are now modern new cities, built with excellent town planing. SL has a lot to learn from the Chinese model. As for JS talk of Chinese loans at exorbitant interest rates is totally false. Infact, they have lent the money on very favourable terms unlike our enemy, India.
Nicholas,
The Hambantota Harbour was commissioned abou a year ago.
No income has been generated from its operations and no significant trading activity has taken place.
The Galle Harbour has 4 Indian ships arriving every month. The income from trading in Galle cannot sustain the operations of the Port.
No economic study was conducted prior to conceiving the Hambantota Harbour. The only reason for building it is vainglory.
Millions of dollars are being paid out to the Chinese Bank as interest payments. The country has more than 40,000 university graduates without gainful employment.
The Central Bank has become expert in publishing false economic data to substantiate 8% growth.
The GDP in real terms has in fact, gone back over the last 8 years.
Youth frustration is gathering momentum. There were 26,000 applications for the Korean Language test from hopefuls intending to find jobs in Korea.
It’s lies, lies and terrible lies, Nicholas. The bubble will eventually burst.
JS
Hambantota Harbour work is continuing. Only the First Phase has been completed. In the Second Phase, the suporting network of warehouses, fuel storage etc etc are being built. When all this work has been completed the harbour will be open for business.
It is easy for numbskulls like yourself to criticise. Sri Lanka is a rising star under Mahinda Chintanaya, while the imperial West is in economic doldrums and struggling. A few of the EU countries are bankrupt. The other member countries are struggling to support them. USA is in dire straits economically. Obama has to go. The US economy is in ruins. There is vast unemployment, poverty and homelessness. The US citizens are calling for his blood. Obama will be famous as a ONE TERM president. He will be remebered only as another war mongerer that has dragged USA to an a bottomless abyss of ruin. USA spent trillions of dollars on their useless wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now in Libya. They have achieved nothing because they are imperialists and the foreign devils will be defeated ultimately. Whereas, under the able direction of our Hon President and his brother, the Defence Secretary, we were able to totally annhilate the LTTE with our heroic forces who are second to none. If we had the fire power of USA we would be masters of the world.