Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong noted that Sri Lanka’s recently launched national initiatives, including the Clean Sri Lanka project and those relating to digital transformation and rural development, align closely with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, creating new avenues for cooperation between the two nations.
“Partnering with China means embracing opportunities. Believing in China means being optimistic about the future, and investing in China means investing in tomorrow,” he said, highlighting the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
China has presented its new long-term development blueprint and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with Sri Lanka during a briefing on the outcomes of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Speaking at the event, attended by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and other dignitaries, Ambassador Qi highlighted the conclusions of the recent CPC Plenary Session, which adopted recommendations for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. The plan sets major economic and social development targets for the next five years and outlines a long-term vision extending to 2035, aiming for high-quality economic growth, technological self-reliance, green development, improved living standards, cultural advancement and strengthened national security.
“Our two nations are fellow travellers on the path toward development and revitalisation, and good partners of win-win cooperation,” Ambassador Qi added. He further said that China is ready to enhance the alignment of development strategies between the two countries, and expand collaboration in priority sectors including port economy, modern agriculture, digital economy, clean energy, tourism and other areas under the high-quality Belt and Road framework. He emphasised that this partnership aims to support Sri Lanka’s socio-economic growth, deliver tangible benefits to both nations and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future.
Moreover, he noted that China’s modernisation and development open up broader opportunities for global cooperation, with Sri Lanka positioned to benefit from China’s expanding economic and technological progress.