Premier Arrives in Colombo for Official Visit to Sri Lanka

Chinese Premier Arrives in Colombo for Official Visit to Sri Lanka

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Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji arrived in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, Thursday evening for a three-day official visit to the island country known as "a pearl in the Indian Ocean" to further consolidate and develop friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Zhu received a red-carpet welcome and a 19-gun salute. He also inspected the guard of honor at the Bandaranaike International Airport, 30 kilometers northeast of the center of Colombo. He was greeted by Si Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Information and Media Minister Anura Yapa and other high-ranking government officials.

In a written statement distributed at the airport, Zhu said that there exists a profound friendship between China and Sri Lanka and the friendly exchanges between the two peoples date back to ancient times. Since the two countries entered into diplomatic relations, they have enjoyed continual consolidation and development through concerted efforts by the two sides, he added.

Zhu said that the two countries understand, respect and support each other on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The further deepening of our friendship accords with not only the common desires and fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples but also regional peace, stability and development.

"I look forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with President Kumaratunga and other Sri Lankan leaders over our bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest. I am confident that this visit is bound to further consolidate and develop the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka and the profound friendship between the two peoples," Zhu said.

China established diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka in 1957. In 1996, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga paid a state visit to China. In 1999, Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, paid an official goodwill visit to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is the fourth leg of Zhu's five-nation South Asia and Southeast Asia tour which has taken him to Pakistan, Nepal and the Maldives. He will also visit Thailand following his trip here.