Latest
UPDATE: SL, China agree to deepen their cooperative partnership
Sep 17, 201408:33 AM
Sri Lanka and China on Tuesday agreed to deepen strategic and defence cooperation, following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.
The countries would step up high-level exchanges, including those of defence authorities, with the aim of deepening the ‘China-Sri Lanka Strategic Cooperative Partnership,’ according to a joint statement released by President Rajapaksa’s office.
Sri Lanka signed nearly 30 agreements with China, including one launching negotiations on a free trade agreement. The leaders authorised the $1.4-billion port city development project, Beijing’s latest investment in Sri Lanka, and cleared the decks for several infrastructure projects besides launching the final phase of a power plant in Noracholai, located in Sri Lanka’s North Western Province.
Sri Lanka has had strong ties with China, which has consistently backed the country at the U.N. Human Rights Council where it faces a U.S.-backed resolution that calls for an international probe into its rights record. Reiterating China’s position, President Xi — in a letter published on the front page of Sri Lanka’s state-run Daily News on Tuesday — said that China “resolutely opposes any move by any country to interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs under any excuse.”
Ever since Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009, sections in New Delhi have been worried about the increasing influence China seems to have over the island nation. However, foreign policy analyst and Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva Dayan Jayatilleke observed that Sri Lanka’s policy makers had a tendency to overplay the ‘China card.’ -
Sri Lanka and China signed the following agreements to further cooperation between the two nations:
1. Plan of Action of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China to Deepen the Strategic Cooperative Partnership
Signed for Sri Lanka: Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs
Signed for China: Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
2. Treaty Between the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
Signed for Sri Lanka: Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs
Signed for China: Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
3. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Launching the Negotiations for a China - Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce
4. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce.
5. Exchange of Letters for the Outpatient Building of the National Hospital
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce.
6. Exchange of Letters for the Medical and Teaching Equipment for Aid - Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce.
7. Framework Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Provision of Concessional Loan by China to Sri Lanka (The construction of the Hambantota Hub Development Project)
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce.
8. Framework Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Provision of Concessional Loan by China to Sri Lanka (The construction of the Extension of the Southern Expressway, Section 4 from Mattala to Hambantota via Andarawewa Project)
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce.
9. MOU between Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Power and Energy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the technical cooperation for the Norochcholai Coal Power Project
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mrs. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Power and Energy
Signed for China: Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce.
10. MOU on Establishment of China - Sri Lanka Coastal and Marine Joint Research and Development Center
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development
Signed for China: Mr. Liu Cigui, Minister of State Oceanic Administration
11. Agreement Between Confucius Institute Headquarters of China and University of Colombo, Sri Lanka on the Establishment of Confucius Institute at University of Colombo
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. K.Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo
Signed for China: Ms. Xu Lin (Vice Minister), Director, Hanban / Chief Executive, Confucius Institute Headquarters
12. Agreement on Cooperation between the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China and the Ministry of Culture and the Arts of Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. T.B. Ekanayake Minister of Culture and the Arts
Signed for China: Mr. Jiang Jianguo, Party Secretary of the leadership group of the Communist Party of China and Vice Minister of State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television
13. Agreement of Cooperation Between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and The Ministry of Higher Education of Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. S.B. Dissanayake, Minister of Higher Education
Signed for China: Mr. Bai Chunli, President, Chinese Academy of Sciences
14. MOU Between the Ministry of Technology and Research of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China on Science, Technology and Innovation Co-operation
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Technology and Research
Signed for China: Mr. Wu Jianghao, Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka
15. MOU between the General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine of China and the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka on Cooperation of Plant Inspection and Quarantine
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture
Signed for China: Mr. Wu Jianghao, Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka
16. MOU between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and Sri Lanka Customs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Strategic Cooperation
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury
Signed for China: Mr. Wu Jianghao, Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka
17. Preferential Buyer Credit Loan Agreement on the Construction of Outer Circular Highway Project Phase III
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury
Signed for China: Mr. Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, The Export-Import Bank of China
18. Government Concessional Loan Agreement on Hambantota Hub Development Project
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury
Signed for China: Mr. Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, The Export-Import Bank of China
19. Government Concessional Loan Agreement on Construction of Extension of the Southern Expressway, Section 4 from Mattala to Hambantota via Andarawewa Project
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury
Signed for China: Mr. Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, The Export-Import Bank of China
20. Framework Agreement on Financing Cooperation in the Priority Economic Sectors of Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury
Signed for China: Mr. Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, The Export-Import Bank of China
21. Term Sheet Agreement of Colombo Port City Development Project Phase I
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Mo Wenhe, Chairman of China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd
Signed for China: Mr. Hu Huaibang, Chairman, Executive Director, China Development Bank
22. Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt.) Limited
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. R.W.R. Pemasiri, Secretary, Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping
Signed for China: Mr. Chen Fenjian, President of China Communication Construction Company Ltd.
23. Agreement on Key Terms for Supply Operate and Transfer (SOT) of Container Terminal Hambantota Port Development Project – Phase II
Signed for Sri Lanka: Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Signed for China: Mr. Chen Fenjian, President of China Communication Construction Company Ltd. Mr. Li Jianhong, Chairman of China Merchants Group
24. Memorandum of Understanding between CEB and CMEC for Overhaul, Spare Parts Supply and Operation and Maintenance Cooperation for LakVijaya Power Station
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. W.B. Ganegala, Chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)
Signed for China: Mr. Sun Bai, Chairman and Executive Director of CMEC
25. Framework Agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and China Merchants Holdings (International) Company Ltd., on the Development of International Maritime Centre in Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. R.W.R. Pemasiri, Secretary, Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping
Signed for China: Mr. Li Jianhong, Chairman of China Merchants Group
26. Exchange of Swap Agreement between the People’s Bank of China and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Signed for China: Mr. Wu Jianghao, Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka
27. Exchange of Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Cooperation between the People’s Bank of China and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Signed for Sri Lanka: Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Signed for China: Mr. Wu Jianghao, Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka.
