Chinese official says critical role for SL | Sunday Observer

Chinese official says critical role for SL

21 May, 2017

Sri Lanka has a pivotal role to play as a strategic location in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative of China, Secretary of the Communist Party of Guangxi Province, China Peng Qinghua told the launch of the China (Guangxi) Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Colombo last week. The Guangxi Province is a strategic location in Southwest China that would play a vital role in the One Belt One Road initiative.

Trade and business representatives of Guangxi Province said Sri Lanka would be a key location promoting trade and investments in the South Asian region under the new maritime route.

“Our province will extend its fullest support to develop bilateral cooperation, tourism, ports and logistics in Sri Lanka and help increase trade and investments between Sri Lanka and China,” Qinghua said. He said that the Guangxi Province will help boost trade, investment and bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and China which share a common heritage and a long history of friendship.

Guangxi Province and Sri Lanka are well sought after locations for international tourism. The number of visitors to the Guangxi province surpassed two million last year.

“We will explore opportunities to promote investments and strengthen tourismin both locations,” the delegation said.

Sri Lanka and China relations mark a milestone this year with 60 years of diplomatic ties. The Rubber-Rice Pact of 1952 is a landmark in the relations between Sri Lanka and China.

“Sri Lanka relies a lot on agriculture which is a key sector in the Guangxi province. Tea, gem and jewellery are other sectors that both Sri Lanka and Guangxi could collaborate to develop,” Qmghua said.

The delegation representatives said the Guangxi has carried out agricultural projects in South Africa. Similarly we could explore ways to develop agricultural trade and investments.

The Guangxi province delegation comprising diverse business sectors said that the form provides a new opportunity for trade and investments between China and Sri Lanka. The Chinese President Xi Jinping had said the Guangxi province is a key location in South East Asia and the One Belt One Road initiative.

The Guangxi is a provincial autonomous region with largest minority population encompassed by natural landscape and colourful folk culture. It is one of China’s business destinations with development potential investment opportunities.

The province is also one of China’s main rice production base and one of the key metal production regions in the country. Guangxi possesses rich coastline, marine and tourism resource.

A 70-member delegation from the Guangxi province was in Sri Lanka last week on the invitation of the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen to promote economic cooperation between the province and Sri Lanka. 

Comments