Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera issued a joint press communique in
Beijing on Saturday evening.
The joint press communique said at the invitation of Li, Samaraweera paid an official visit to China from July 12 to 16.
Samaraweera called on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and held in-depth talks with Li.
Samaraweera also met with Li Shenglin, minister of communications, Yu Guangzhou, vice minister of commerce, Shao Qiwei, chairman of China National Tourism Administration, Li Ruogu, president of the Export-Import Bank of China and Yuan Xingpei, chairman of China-Sri Lanka Friendship Group of China's National People's Congress.
Samaraweera delivered a speech entitled "Future Orientations in China-Sri Lanka Relations in the Context of the Evolving Political and Economic Development of China" at China Institute of International Studies.
The joint communique said during the meetings, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The two sides re-affirmed that China-Sri Lanka relations have enjoyed healthy and smooth growth on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago.
The two countries have steadily increased mutual political trust, carried out fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and exchanged frequent visits at various levels, according to the communique.
In April 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Sri Lanka. The two countries proclaimed the establishment of an All-round Cooperative Partnership featuring sincere mutual support and everlasting friendship.
It marked a new stage of growth in China-Sri Lanka relations, said the communique. Former President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge visited China in August 2005.
The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the progress made in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in political affairs, economy and trade, culture, tourism and other areas as well as their good cooperation in regional and international affairs, said the communique.
The two sides agreed to keep the momentum of high-level visits. The Chinese side welcomed a visit to China by H.E.Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, in 2007. The specific time of the visit would be decided upon through diplomatic channels, bearing in mind that diplomatic relations were formally established on February 7 of 1957.
The two sides decided that, as the year 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, it will be declared the Year of China-Sri Lanka Friendship.
The two sides agreed to hold a number of commemorative activities in each other's country to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples and strengthen their traditional friendship, details of which would be discussed between the Foreign Ministries and Embassies concerned, said the communique.
The two sides emphasized that expanded economic and trade cooperation would be conducive to the common progress and prosperity of the people of the two countries and that bilateral economic cooperation including cooperation in trade and investment should be further strengthened.
The two sides expressed readiness to enhance friendly exchanges in technical development and training, energy exploration, tourism, education, cultural and religious affairs, youth exchanges and in the academic field, and to seek new ways to deepen cooperation in these fields, based on agreements already signed.
The communique said the two sides welcomed increased participation by Chinese enterprises in infrastructure and development projects in Sri Lanka. Consultations were held to workout mutually acceptable facilities for financing of such projects on favorable terms and expediting their implementation.
The communique said the priority projects are the coal power project in Puttalam, the airport-city of Colombo highway, and the Harbor and Oil Storage bunkering port of Hambantota.
