Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday has said China is ready to enhance anti-pandemic cooperation with Sri Lanka and continue to provide vaccine assistance to the country, CGTN said today. During a phone conversation with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Wang said China is also ready to take concrete actions to help Sri Lanka defeat the pandemic at an early date. Wang called on the two sides to make solid progress in cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, turning the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port into two major engines to boost Sri Lanka's economic development, pushing for Sri Lanka's industrialization, and enhancing the country's capacity for independent development. According to CGTN, Minister Gunawardena has said Sri Lanka regards China as its closest friend and thanked China for its ‘long-term, selfless help’ in Sri Lanka's economic development, improvement of people's livelihood, and coping with internal and external challenges. “Sri Lanka appreciates China's fair stance on human rights issues and is willing to join hands with China to safeguard fairness and justice in regional and international affairs,” he added.