COLOMBO – Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Luo Zhaohui has assured of his country’s support to Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and continued assistance as Sri Lanka confronts critical economic challenge amidst COVID-19 constraints.
The assurance was given to Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Dr. Palitha Kohona, when the latter met with the Vice Minister March 3.
A statement from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing said Luo had also assured the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China will continue to extend its fullest support to the Ambassador in Beijing, while acknowledging his long standing connections with China.
It said the two parties had also discussed cooperation and mutual support in international fora, in economic matters for post COVID-19 recovery, effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic and future high-level visits.
Luo had also said the Chinese Foreign Ministry will proactively support efforts to increase Chinese tourism to Sri Lanka and more businesses, including SOEs, to invest in the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Industrial Zone, while noting that it was time for these two Chinese supported ventures to get off the ground.
The statement said both parties had agreed that the recommencement of negotiations on the bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the view to concluding it soon would be advantageous to Sri Lanka, and that Dr. Kohona had also raised the issue of non-tariff barriers which are hindering access to the lucrative Chinese market for a range of natural, agricultural and industrial products.
Dr. Kohona had also commended China for successfully eliminating extreme poverty by 2020 consistent with a key SDG and congratulated the Communist Party of China as it celebrated its 100th year Anniversary, noting that China’s spectacular success could be attributed to the prudent management of the country by the Party.
-ENCL