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Chinese Premier Meets Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker
Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Friday told Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Anura Bandaranaike that he hopes legislative organizations of the two countries will increase contacts and exchanges to contribute to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between their two countries and peoples.
During the meeting, Zhu conveyed greetings of Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China to Anura. He said he has felt by himself the friendship of the Sri Lankan people towards the Chinese people during his first visit to the country, though not long.
Zhu said that he had good talks with President Kumaratunga on Friday morning and both sides have reached agreement on the further development of bilateral relations. China and Sri Lanka had long-standing friendly exchanges, he said.
Fostered by several generations of leaders of the two countries, the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Sri Lanka have been steadily strengthened since the two countries established diplomatic ties more than 40 years ago, Zhu said.
Zhu said that both Anura's father and mother, the two late prime ministers of the country, were founder of the friendship between China and Sri Lanka and the Chinese people still keep in their mind his parent's friendship towards them.
Anura said that Sri Lanka attaches great importance to the development of relations with China. China is a stabilizing force in the world arena and a more powerful China is beneficial to the peace and stability in Asia as well as the world.
Ramil Wickremesinghe, leader of the opposition United National Party also called on Zhu on Friday.
Zhu also attended a ceremony unveiling of the plaque of the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial International Exhibition Center to be built by China near the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo, which was donated by China in early 1970s.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, who is accompanying Zhu on his current visit, met on the same day with his Sri Lankan counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar. They exchanged views on cooperation between their two foreign ministries and some regional issues.
Zhu arrived at Colombo on Thursday and will leave on Saturday for a visit to Thailand, the last leg of his five-nation South Asia and Southeast Asia tour, which had taken him to Pakistan, Nepal and the Maldives.
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