By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
[caption id="attachment_100609" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of China and current Communist Party Political Bureau member Yang Jiechi met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 09 October 2020 at Temple Trees, Colombo.[/caption]
Despite long-running concerns of a Chinese economic takeover of Sri Lanka and so-called “debt trap diplomacy”, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday (9) invited more Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.
At a meeting held with a high-level Chinese delegation led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of China and current Communist Party Political Bureau member Yang Jiechi at Temple Trees, the Prime Minister said that he expected that the Chinese Government would be able to encourage Chinese companies to come and invest in Sri Lanka, adding that it would help generate export earnings as well as create employment opportunities for Sri Lankans, especially young people.
The Government is interested in accepting investments from around the world and the priority is the Port City of Colombo, he added.
In a controversial meeting held with the Chinese delegation that did not undergo the compulsory 14-day quarantine process in Sri Lanka prior to the meeting, the Prime Minister pointed out that the tourism sector had been severely impacted globally and that Sri Lanka is committed to rebuilding its tourism industry and providing a safe haven for tourists from around the world, based on the advice of health authorities.
The Prime Minister said he hoped to work closely with the Chinese Government to find collective solutions to the common challenges posed by the pandemic, including the global fight to end it and the development of economic ties in Sri Lanka. Addressing the meeting, Jiechi said that the Chinese Government has always encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.
“China has already contributed to the development process in Sri Lanka, especially relating to the Colombo Port City and other projects. The tourism sector is very important for the relationship between the two countries. We hope that those relations will continue as soon as the Covid-19 situation is brought under control. China has increased imports of local products from Sri Lanka,” Jiechi added.
The delegation also met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday evening and discussed bilateral relations at length.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of China and current Communist Party Political Bureau member Yang Jiechi met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 09 October 2020 at Temple Trees, Colombo.[/caption]
Despite long-running concerns of a Chinese economic takeover of Sri Lanka and so-called “debt trap diplomacy”, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday (9) invited more Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.
At a meeting held with a high-level Chinese delegation led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of China and current Communist Party Political Bureau member Yang Jiechi at Temple Trees, the Prime Minister said that he expected that the Chinese Government would be able to encourage Chinese companies to come and invest in Sri Lanka, adding that it would help generate export earnings as well as create employment opportunities for Sri Lankans, especially young people.
The Government is interested in accepting investments from around the world and the priority is the Port City of Colombo, he added.
In a controversial meeting held with the Chinese delegation that did not undergo the compulsory 14-day quarantine process in Sri Lanka prior to the meeting, the Prime Minister pointed out that the tourism sector had been severely impacted globally and that Sri Lanka is committed to rebuilding its tourism industry and providing a safe haven for tourists from around the world, based on the advice of health authorities.
The Prime Minister said he hoped to work closely with the Chinese Government to find collective solutions to the common challenges posed by the pandemic, including the global fight to end it and the development of economic ties in Sri Lanka. Addressing the meeting, Jiechi said that the Chinese Government has always encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.
“China has already contributed to the development process in Sri Lanka, especially relating to the Colombo Port City and other projects. The tourism sector is very important for the relationship between the two countries. We hope that those relations will continue as soon as the Covid-19 situation is brought under control. China has increased imports of local products from Sri Lanka,” Jiechi added.
The delegation also met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday evening and discussed bilateral relations at length.