China, Sri Lanka Vow to Further Develop Bilateral Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 08, 2002

China, Sri Lanka Vow to Further Develop Bilateral Ties

Exchanging congratulatory greetings on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, China and Sri Lanka have vowed to make joint efforts to develop bilateral relations to a new level.

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45 years' smooth bilateral tie development

In a greeting message to his Sri Lankan counterpart, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said on Wednesday that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides, China and Sri Lanka have developed equal, mutually-beneficial and friendly-cooperatiive relations on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, which serve the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries.

Jiang said China and Sri Lanka have enjoyed healthy and smooth development of relations over the past 45 years.

Jiang said he believes that with the efforts of the two sides, China and Sri Lanka would have broader and brighter prospects of cooperation in the new century.

Cooperation to be further strengthened

In her message to Jiang, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said that in the past 45 years, relations between Sri Lanka and China have consolidated and the cooperation is fruitful.

The Sri Lankan president believed that bilateral cooperation would be further strengthened so as to better serve the interests of the peoples of the two countries.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando also exchanged greeting messages.

Premier Zhu on bilateral ties

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake also exchanged greetings on Wednesday.

In his greeting message to Wickremanayake, Zhu said China attaches great importance to developing and consolidating good and cooperative relations with Sri Lanka.

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Zhu said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 45 years ago, China and Sri Lanka have achieved significant progress in bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields.

Zhu said cooperative relations between the two countries would be further developed and strengthened in the future.

In his message to Zhu, Wickremanayake said that with the joint efforts by the two sides, Sri Lanka and China have enjoyed smooth development of bilateral relations in the past 45 years which would be further consolidated in the future.

He said Zhu's official visit to his country in May 2001 marked a new milestone in bilateral cooperation in all fields between the two nations.

China and Sri Lanka

Political Relations

On February 7, 1957, China and Sri Lanka entered into full diplomatic relations. The two countries have since then maintained friendly relations and exchanges of top-level visits.

Economic and Trade Relations

In 1982, the Sino-Sri Lankan Joint Trade Committee was established. In 1984, an agreement was signed on the establishment of the Sino-Sri Lankan Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee. In 1991, the two countries agreed to amalgamate these two committees into Sino-Sri Lankan Joint Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation with the first meeting held in 1992 in Colombo, the second in March 1996 in Beijing and the third in April 1998 in Colombo.

Cooperation in Culture, Science and Technology, Education

China and Sri Lanka signed a cultural cooperation agreement in 1979. There are bilateral exchanges in the fields of Culture, Arts, Buddhism, Journalism, Education, Health and Publication. Exchanges of students are carried out on an annual basis. In 1999, China offered scholarship to 17 students from Sri Lanka and there are altogether 76 Sri Lankan students studying in China.

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Premier Zhu's visit to Sri Lanka to Expand Good Relationship

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said on Tuesday that Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's upcoming visit to his country will further expand good relations between the two countries.

He said that China and Sri Lanka had a long-standing relationship which dated back to the fifth century. Since his country established diplomatic relations with China in 1957 both countries have had very close relationship, he added.

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