Following His Trip to India, Sri Lankan President Dissanayake Heads to China
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Beijing, Jan 10 (NationPress) At the request of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a state visit to China from January 14 to 17, as revealed by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Friday.
This visit marks the first time President Dissanayake will travel to China since taking office and carries significant weight for the progress of China-Sri Lanka relations, as stated by Guo Jiakun, another spokesperson for the foreign ministry, during a news briefing.
President Xi Jinping is scheduled to engage in discussions with President Dissanayake. In addition, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji will also hold meetings with him, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Last month, Dissanayake visited India, marking his first official overseas trip since he took office in September.
Upon his return, the Sri Lankan President described his three-day visit to India as quite successful, highlighting the productive discussions he had with Indian leaders and the business community during his stay.
The delegation accompanying Dissanayake included Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, alongside Labour Minister and Economic Development Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando.
The President of Sri Lanka expressed that his visit has facilitated further cooperation between the two neighboring nations.
He remarked, “We faced an unprecedented economic crisis two years ago, and India supported us immensely to emerge from that quagmire. It has also provided significant assistance thereafter, particularly in the debt-free restructuring process. I recognize that Sri Lanka holds a vital position in India’s foreign policy. PM Modi assured us of full support and guaranteed the protection of Sri Lanka's territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
Dissanayake reaffirmed Sri Lanka's commitment to not allowing its territory to be used in any way that could threaten India’s security or regional stability.
“I have assured the Prime Minister of India that we will not permit our land to be used in any manner that harms India’s interests. Our cooperation with India will undoubtedly thrive, and I wish to reaffirm our continued support to India,” Dissanayake stated during the joint press conference.
While addressing the State Banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, he emphasized that the ties between Sri Lanka and India go beyond diplomacy and geographic closeness, as the bilateral relationship is fundamentally linked by civilization, mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared destiny.
“The strength of our partnership lies in our collective action. Through collaborative efforts, we can tackle new and evolving challenges that cross borders, whether in addressing environmental issues, combating terrorism, or ensuring economic growth that benefits all citizens globally. Sri Lanka is dedicated to nurturing deeper cooperation with India as a leader of the global South, to leverage the opportunities of the 21st century for future generations in an interconnected and interdependent world,” concluded Dissanayake.
