Sri Lanka’s PM commends China for strong support
COLOMBO, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne said Sri Lanka appreciates China’s long-standing support and his government will further developing its relations with China.
Sri Lanka sees China as a close friend and will work with China to strengthen the bilateral ties in all areas, Jayaratne made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua at his official residence recently.
Jayaratne recalled the long relations between Sri Lanka and China that began over a thousand years ago with the arrival of Chinese monk Fa Xian.
He said Sri Lanka is one of the first countries supporting China’s UN membership. He said China and Sri Lanka signed the historic Rubber-Rice Pact in 1952 bringing many benefits to the peoples of the two nations, and the two countries formally established diplomatic relations in 1957 and the bilateral ties have developed steadily since then.
Jayaratne said he had accompanied former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to visit China decades ago and met Chairman Mao Zedong. During the visit, China promised to help build an International Conference Center in Sri Lanka.
The prime minister said the International Conference Center, namely Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall together with the recently opened National Performing Art Theater in Colombo have stood as a symbol of the friendship between China and Sri Lanka.
The on-going projects assisted by China, including Norochcholai Coal-Powered Power Project, Hambantota Port, Maththala Airport and highways in the south would give a boost to Sri Lanka’s economy, said Jayaratne.
He said that China has always supported Sri Lanka, especially on the issues related to the question of Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity. The Sri Lankan leadership has always appreciated China’s steadfast support on issues of their concern.
“We are very grateful to China for always standing beside Sri Lanka, especially during times when the west was criticizing the government for ending a three decade war. China is Sri Lanka’s largest benefactor supporting many infrastructure programs that are crucial for our development,” he said.
Jayaratne said the year 2012 is coming, he wrote an inscription wishing the Chinese people a happy and prosperous new year.
Source: Xinhua
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I agree with PM. China is our best friend. We owe it to China for its steadfast support in eradicating the evil LTTE. We need her support continually in the economic development and in further strengthening our Defence Forces for the Nation’s security. We need the GOSL to sign special treaties with China and Russia to protect SL from US and NATO military threat.
Although the prime minister did not mention it, China is the only country that can save the planet from the machinations of Western powers in the form of the US/EU/UK/NATO alliance, which will otherwise bring the whole world down with them when they eventually collapse. China’s recent record of assistance and developemnt of Africa and Latin America are commendable and unprecedented in human history. Its economic growth is phenomenal and the country will soon surpass the US as the largest economy.Its philosophies are humanitarian, benevolent,altruistic and compassionate. These were never ever the characteristics that defined Western involvement. Brazil, Russia, India and China together will form the next centre of world economic policy.
Dear Lasantha,
I fully endorse your brilliant comments re China as our dearest friend and even protector against US led NATO evil machinations. I believe within the next 20 years China will rise to be a HYPERPOWER. I am very happy for China.
China has a rich and glorious cultural and historical past. We are indeed fortunate to have China’s support in the UN along with Russia against USA, Britain and France. Of these only USA is truly a superpower. The other two are today, nonentities. Their economies are in the doldrums. In USA more than half the country is today below the poverty belt. Obama has dashed all the hopes the ordinary people, black and white, placed on him at the last election. He has proved to be hypocrite passing draconian laws to make life even harder for the poor. USA and the NATO countries are still exercising neo-colonialism in alliance, to exploit and rob smaller nations of their resources, unlike China.
I am sure that the BRIC countries will play a pivotal role and success in future world economy and support for the smaller nations, without exploitation. I hope SL will emulate China’s success and not India, who I see as the most chaotic and corrupt country with more than half the country below poverty belt. We should trade more with China and less with India who has consistently cheated us.
We should also sign special Defence Pacts with China and Russia to forestall impending naked agression of USA and its NATO allies against SL, in support of diaspora Tamils/LTTE and TNA for autonomy.