BEIJING (AP) — Sri Lanka and China signed a series of cooperation agreements on Wednesday following talks between their leaders, one month after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made India his first overseas trip since winning election last September.
The support of the two regional powerhouses — and rivals — is crucial for Sri Lanka to emerge from its worst economic crisis in decades, which led to political upheaval and paved the way for Dissanayake to come to power.
China was once seen as having the upper hand in Sri Lanka through its huge loans and infrastructure investments. While China remains the country’s largest bilateral lender, Sri Lanka’s economic collapse provided an opening for India, which stepped in with massive financial and material assistance including food, fuel and medicines.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in opening remarks to Dissanayake, said that relations between their countries are at a historical juncture.
“I am willing to work with you, Mr. President, to chart a new vision for the development of bilateral relations and promote new and greater achievements in China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation,” Xi said.
Sri Lanka borrowed heavily from China over the past decade for projects including a shipping port, airport and a city being built on reclaimed land. The projects failed to earn enough revenue to pay off the loans, and Sri Lanka leased the port in Hambantota to a state-owned Chinese company in 2017.
Dissanayake said China remains a key partner that has supported important development under its Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Xi to construct roads, ports, power plants and other infrastructure overseas. The initiative has helped China deepen its ties in much of the developing world.
For years, China has been trying to expand its influence in Sri Lanka, an island off India’s southeast coast that the government in New Delhi considers part of its strategic backyard. The Indian navy launched a submarine and two warships at a state-run shipyard on Wednesday with an eye on China’s presence in the Indian Ocean.
Marxist-leaning Dissanayake’s visit to the Chinese capital can be seen as an effort to navigate the rivalry between India and China, which his party traditionally has leaned toward.
In New Delhi last month, Dissanayake met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he would not allow Sri Lanka to be used in “a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India.”
The agreements between Sri Lanka and China covered a range of areas, including economic and technological development, health inspections for food imports and TV broadcasting and other media cooperation.
Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and suspended payments on $83 billion in domestic and foreign loans as a foreign exchange crisis led to severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, along with hourslong power cuts.
China’s support is vital for Sri Lanka to restructure its external debt. China accounts for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s loans, more than Japan or the Asian Development Bank.
The country’s crisis was largely the result of economic mismanagement combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with terrorist attacks in 2019 devastated its tourism industry. The pandemic also disrupted the flow of money sent home by Sri Lankans working abroad.
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சீனப் பயணத்துக்கு ஒரு வாரம் முன் அநுரா ஆட்சி முடிவெடுத்து அறிவித்த விடயங்கள்:
‘Taiwan is only a province of China,’ affirms Sri Lanka
The cabinet reaffirmed Colombo's commitment to the 'One China Policy' ahead of Dissanayake's visit to Beijing
The Sri Lankan government re-affirmed its support for the ‘One China Policy’ in a cabinet decision this week, ahead of Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China next week.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet agreed to the proposal put forward by foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath to continue abiding by the policy, a move thought to be a gesture that will strengthen bilateral ties between Beijing and Colombo.
“It is accepted that legitimate China is only the People’s Republic of China and, Thaiwan is only a province of China,” read the Sri Lankan decision.
In addition, the cabinet approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said it was one of multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions that were approved* this week.
These include;
1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China
2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China
3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China
4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group
5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group
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| Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa |
AKD Govt. reaffirms Sri Lanka’s ‘One China Policy’*
- Cabinet green lights multiple key agreements with China including boosting tourism and export of chicken meat from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka this week reiterated commitment to the ‘One China Policy’, whilst Cabinet of Ministers approved a series of new agreements with China.
The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the continuation of ‘One China Policy’ recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate Government of China and acknowledging Taiwan is only a province of China.
The fact furnished by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath indicating that Sri Lanka further follows the same policy as it is and act adhering to the same was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
In addition, as part of strengthening bilateral relations, the Cabinet of Ministers approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday announcing the decisions said the move aims to elevate Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination for Chinese tourists by leveraging modern technology and expertise of the China Media Group.
Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, he said additionally the Cabinet endorsed a proposal to facilitate the export of chicken from Sri Lanka to China.
“The agreement drafted in collaboration with China’s General Administration of Customs, outlines health requirements and quarantine procedures to ensure compliance with export standards,” Dr. Jayatissa said.
The proposal to this effect submitted by Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister Lal Kantha to sign the said agreement between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry was unanimously approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday.
In humanitarian efforts, Dr. Jayatissa stated that the Chinese Government has provided emergency aid worth 35.7 million Yuan to support small-scale fishermen in Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Cabinet of Ministers formally certify this aid and further enhance cooperation in the sector.
The assistance includes 75,000 fisheries nets for small scale and low income generating fishermen, 500 precast houses for small scale and low income generating fishermen and 1,630 tons of rice for small scale and low income generating fishermen.
In addition, Dr. Jayatissa said Cabinet granted approval for multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions to foster collaboration in health, media and information sectors.
These include; 1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China, 2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China, 3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China, 4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group and 5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group.
The proposal to this effect submitted by Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Jayatissa said the pact aims to enhance knowledge exchange and technical expertise.⍐
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