Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has said that his government will continue to pursue a friendly policy toward China and firmly promote all kinds of cooperation between the two countries.

Meeting with visiting Chinese special envoy and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin in the capital on Thursday, Sirisena said that his country is willing to make joint efforts with China to further strengthen friendly relations and also advance with the suspended mega China-funded port city project.

The 1.4 billion U.S. dollars Colombo Port City Project, funded by the China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), was suspended by Sirisena’s government in March after concerns were raised over some aspects of the project. The project began construction in September last year.

For his part, Liu said that despite changes both in regional and international situation and the political situation in Sri Lanka, China will adhere to the friendly policy between the two countries.

He hoped that Sri Lanka will make joint efforts with China for the development of the bilateral relations.

The two sides should implement the consensus agreed upon during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the island nation in September 2014 and President Maithripala Sirisenna’s visit to China in March this year, Liu said.

Sri Lanka should also see the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road proposed by China as an opportunity to promote cooperation and lift the ties between the two nations to a new high, Liu added, Xinhua reports.