On the afternoon of March 27, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Gunawardena, who was in China for an official visit.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Sri Lanka friendship has a long history and the two peoples have a natural feeling of closeness. Consolidating and developing China-Sri Lanka relations is in line with the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two peoples. China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to continue to carry forward the spirit of the Rice Rubber Agreement of "independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual assistance", consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance, expand practical cooperation, jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, and continuously deepen China and Sri Lanka have a strategic cooperative partnership of sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China firmly supports Sri Lanka in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, and national dignity, exploring a modernization path that suits its national conditions, and will continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka's economic and social development to the best of its ability. Both sides should work together to promote high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", especially the two flagship projects of Colombo Port City and Hambantota comprehensive development, deepen cooperation in logistics, energy, and industry, and strengthen digital economy, green economy, clean energy, Exchanges and cooperation in cultural tourism, marine economy and other fields. China is willing to continue to expand the import of high-quality products with Sri Lankan characteristics, encourage Chinese companies to invest and start business in Sri Lanka, and hopes that Sri Lanka will provide a fair and transparent business environment. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka in rural poverty reduction and help Sri Lanka achieve economic transformation, upgrading and sustainable development. Both sides should further promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen collaboration in international and regional affairs, safeguard China-Sri Lanka common interests and international fairness and justice, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka and China have traditional friendship. Sri Lanka unequivocally abides by the one-China principle, unequivocally pursues the policy of friendly cooperation with China, and always puts China at the top of its foreign relations. Sri Lanka will never forget that China always lends a helping hand in a timely manner in Sri Lanka's difficulties. Sri Lanka and China are friends in adversity with a shared destiny. Projects such as Colombo Port City and Hambantota Comprehensive Development have greatly boosted Sri Lanka's economic and social development and also effectively promoted the overall development of the region. The global development initiative, global security initiative and global civilization initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have injected new impetus and positive energy into world peace and development, and Sri Lanka will actively support and participate in them. Sri Lanka is willing to continue to work with China to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen friendly relations between Sri Lanka and China, promote the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, expand cooperation in economy, trade, education, tourism, poverty reduction and other fields, intensify international multilateral communication and cooperation, and promote the establishment of a A community with a shared future for Asia and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Wang Yi attended the meeting.