H.E. Zhang Dejiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China led a thirty member official delegation to Sri Lanka for a three day official visit from 10-12 June 2010 on an invitation extended by the Hon. Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne. He visited Pakistan before his arrival in Colombo. The Vice Premier and his delegation were warmly received at the airport by the Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health, Hon.Githanjan Gunawardane, Acting Minister of External Affairs, and Hon. M.L.A.M.Hizbullah, Deputy Minister of Child Development & Women's Affairs.

 

Commencing his official meeting, the Vice Premier met the Hon. Speaker Chamal Rajapkse at the Parliament on 11, June 2010. Recalling the long lasting relations between the two countries, the Hon. Speaker extended an invitation to his counterpart of the Chinese parliament to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time. The Hon. Speaker also stressed the need for establishing a China-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group. Reiterating the China's continues support for Sri Lanka the Chinese Vice Premier emphasized that China will always stand behind Sri Lanka whenever her assistance is needed. He further mentioned that China always respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and thanked the government of Sri Lanka for its support in the international fora specially on Taiwan, Tibet, and human rights issues. Referring to the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries the Chinese Vice Premier stated this could be cited as an example as to how a big country and a small country could become trusted friends and keep their relations alive and warm at all time.

Later on the evening Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang had a full scale bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne at the Prime Minister's office, where the both leaders stressed the need for enhancing cooperation between the two nations in a wide range of areas including economy, education, culture and international affairs. While acknowledging the Chinese government's generous assistance extended to Sri Lanka for the development of the country, Prime Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka's economy has been greatly benefitted by some mega projects funded by the government of China in recent years. He stated further that Sri Lanka treasures the friendship between the two countries and unswervingly supports China on issues of her core interests.

Prime Minister along with the visiting Chinese Vice Premier of China witnessed the signing of several agreements and MoUs related to the field of information technology, maritime ports, economic & technical cooperation and southern transportation development. During the meeting with the Sri Lanka Prime Minister the visiting Chinese leader offered Sri Lanka a loan of $200mn to build a second international airport in the southern part of the country and $100mn to upgrade the Sri Lankan railway network.

Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo

14th June 2010