COLOMBO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka has released a guidebook offering consular protection and assistance to Chinese nationals visiting the island country.

In a ceremony held here on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan unveiled the book together with Sri Lanka's Minister of Tourism, John Amaratunga.

The guidebook was then handed over to a group of tourists who had attended the ceremony and to representatives of Sri Lankan and Chinese companies based in Colombo.

Speaking at the launch, Amaratunga said that this guidebook will be extremely vital in guiding thousands of Chinese tourists who visit Sri Lanka every year and it is an example for other embassies to follow in providing proper guidance in their respective languages to their citizens when they arrive in the country.

"As you all are aware China is the second highest source of tourists to Sri Lanka. Last year we welcomed 266,000 Chinese tourists to the country," Amaratunga said.

Amaratunga further said the tourism ministry will extend its fullest cooperation in ensuring that the guidebook is distributed to all Chinese nationals arriving in the country. He said the Sri Lanka Tourism Information Center at the Bandaranaike International Airport will also take measures to distribute this guidebook at the arrivals terminal to the Chinese travelers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Cheng said due to the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Sri Lanka friendly and pragmatic cooperation, which has benefited the two countries, more Chinese people were visiting Sri Lanka for tourism, businesses and cultural exchanges.

Ambassador Cheng said maintaining the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese nationals overseas was the duty of the Chinese government and the Chinese embassies and consulates, and the Chinese government had always told Chinese travelers to adhere to local laws and local folklore.

He said the guidebook provided useful information to all Chinese travelers and hoped it would become a treasure book for those wanting to have a pleasant and peaceful stay in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is aiming to attract at least 300,000 Chinese tourists to visit the country this year.