Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe meets Chinese President Xi Jinping

President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China expressed his unwavering commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in attaining economic stability, with absolutely no political agenda in mind. He eagerly looked forward to a close collaboration with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Furthermore, President Xi Jinping acknowledged Sri Lanka’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, which highlighted the country’s strategic independence and its neutral stance.

During their bilateral discussions at the Great Hall of the People, the two leaders engaged warmly and exchanged friendly greetings. President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s dedication to the “One China” policy and expressed deep gratitude for Sri Lanka’s support of the “Belt and Road” initiative. He underscored the importance of key projects such as the port city and Hambantota port under this initiative, pledging to enhance imports of Sri Lankan products to China and boost investments in Sri Lanka. President Xi Jinping also assured that China would offer friendly, practical, and timely support for Sri Lanka’s debt optimization program.

In the spirit of historical relations between China and Sri Lanka, President Xi Jinping referenced the travels of the Faxian monk and Zheng He. In response, President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended his appreciation for China’s longstanding support and lauded President Xi Jinping for his consistently friendly approach toward Sri Lanka.

President Wickremesinghe shared plans to construct a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple and stupa in honor of the visit of the Faxian monk to Sri Lanka, and President Xi Jinping expressed China’s full support for these initiatives.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed Sri Lanka’s aspiration to establish a maritime economic corridor connecting China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, which President Xi Jinping recognized as a challenging yet worthwhile endeavor and encouraged President Wickremesinghe to lead the way.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of positioning Sri Lanka as an economic hub in the Indian Ocean region. President Wickremesinghe emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to preserving peace and the identity of the Indian Ocean region and advocated for cooperation between India and China to foster development in Asia.

Furthermore, President Wickremesinghe revealed Sri Lanka’s ambitious goal of achieving developed status by 2048, emphasizing the strong foundation laid by the eight-step program unveiled at the 3rd “Belt and Road” forum for International Cooperation.

The leaders also discussed the potential impact of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, showing their commitment to regional stability and cooperation.