Xinhua News Agency, Colombo, October 3 -
Newsletter: Colombo Port City belongs not only contemporary, but will benefit our future generations
Xinhua News Agency reporter Tang Lu
Sri Lanka’s first marina, the first artificial beach in Colombo, and a vibrant green garden area... On September 17, it was the 6th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Port City of Colombo. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led a number of ministers to set foot. This land of golden sands created by reclamation.
Seeing the embryonic form of this future city in Sri Lanka, he said with emotion, "Colombo Port City is a landmark project and will become the engine of Sri Lanka's future development."
Colombo Port City is a key cooperation project between Sri Lanka and China on the "One Belt One Road" initiative.
In September 2014, the Colombo Port City project was launched under the witness of Chinese and Sri Lankan leaders.
On the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the dredger on the sea sounded its whistle, and the sand blew up.
According to the plan, the Port City will form 269 hectares of land through reclamation and build a new central business district in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, that integrates finance, tourism, logistics and information technology.
Six years later, the port city is rising from the sea.
Li Zenghui, the manager in charge of port city administration and greening construction, told reporters that 9 bridges are planned to be built on the landscape waterways in the port city, including 4 vehicle bridges and 5 pedestrian bridges.
In addition to the artificial beaches and yacht piers that have already been completed, the roads and bridges, urban underground pipe networks and landscape greening in the port city will also be completed next year.
The embryonic form of the Port City is emerging, and it is gradually attracting the local public and investors.
Le Yeqing, assistant to the general manager of the Port City Project Company, said: “The temporary seaside golf course built on the artificial beach has been opened to the public. In the near future, Port City will open temporary duty-free shops and exhibition centers.”
Many foreign investors have also expressed great interest in Colombo Port City.
The head of the Port City Project Company’s Strategy and Commercial Development Department, Tulsi Aluwihaler, confidently told Xinhua News Agency that the Port City of Colombo has a strategic geographical location as the center of South Asia, extending in all directions, and Sri Lanka’s own talent advantages, good Infrastructure conditions also make it an ideal investment destination.
"Port City is Sri Lanka's first futuristic city, and sustainable development is the core of Port City development. At the same time, the inclusion of Port City into the Smart City Plan will ensure that the design of Port City will not be outdated in another 25 years. "Aruvihal said that the port city is being transformed into a service-oriented economic hub. In the future, it will not only attract international companies to relocate to Colombo, but also become a platform to help Sri Lankan companies go global.
According to reports, the Sri Lankan government also plans to introduce the Port City Special Economic Zone Law. Once the relevant legislation is approved, the Port City will be more attractive.
"The Sri Lankan government is stepping up the relevant legislation on Port City, which will be the focus of the government's policy this year." Sri Lanka's Minister of State for Finance, Capital Markets and State-owned Enterprise Reform, Cabral, earlier disclosed to Xinhua News Agency reporters.
"The foreign investment that Port City may attract will have a positive impact on the overall economy of Sri Lanka, and will directly drive local employment and economic growth."
As Rajapaksa expected when he inspected the port city: "The Port City of Colombo will become the main economic and financial hub of Sri Lanka and South Asia. This project is not only contemporary, but will benefit our future generations."