Sri Lankan President kicks off a four-day state visit to China, demonstrating ‘Rubber-Rice’ friendship: expert
Published: Jan 15, 2025Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake kicked off a four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, according to Sri Lanka local media Sunday Times. This marks the leader's first visit to China after taking office.
Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Chinese military, and he was formally received by Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President's Media Division said.
During this state visit, Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in several key engagements, including field visits focused on technological and agricultural development, as well as initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. The visit also includes high-level business meetings and discussions, Sunday Times reported on Tuesday.
China and Sri Lanka have long been each other's friend and close neighbor. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, always maintained sound and steady growth, and set up a fine example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on January 10.
China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka through the upcoming visit to carry forward our time-honored friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields for continuous new progress in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and ever-lasting friendship as well as more benefits for the two peoples, Guo said.
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that Dissanayake is seeking more development opportunities through his visit to China.
China and Sri Lanka are promoting traditional cooperation in infrastructure construction and agriculture, but there is also great room for cooperation in tourism, port city development under the Belt and Road Initiative and fisheries, Qian said.
The agenda includes key focus areas such as technology, agriculture and poverty alleviation. President Dissanayake is also scheduled to visit strategic facilities and participate in high-level business forums aimed at enhancing economic collaboration and investment opportunities, according to a notice released by Sri Lanka's Presidential Office on Monday.
Dissanayake's visit to China demonstrates a firm "Rubber-Rice" friendship between China and Sri Lanka, Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Dissanayake's visit to China is being closely watched by Indian media.
"After India, Sri Lanka's president heads to China for key diplomatic talks," according to a video segment on Indian TV station NDTV's website.
During the visit of the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India in December 2024, some Indian media outlets diverted attention from India-Sri Lanka relations and instead sought to sow discord between China and Sri Lanka.
Experts suggest that, as an independent sovereign state, maintaining its own interests is paramount for the Sri Lankan government, which is expected to continue a balanced diplomatic approach.⍐
Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Chinese military, and he was formally received by Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President's Media Division said.
During this state visit, Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in several key engagements, including field visits focused on technological and agricultural development, as well as initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. The visit also includes high-level business meetings and discussions, Sunday Times reported on Tuesday.China and Sri Lanka have long been each other's friend and close neighbor. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, always maintained sound and steady growth, and set up a fine example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on January 10.
China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka through the upcoming visit to carry forward our time-honored friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields for continuous new progress in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and ever-lasting friendship as well as more benefits for the two peoples, Guo said.
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that Dissanayake is seeking more development opportunities through his visit to China.
China and Sri Lanka are promoting traditional cooperation in infrastructure construction and agriculture, but there is also great room for cooperation in tourism, port city development under the Belt and Road Initiative and fisheries, Qian said.
The agenda includes key focus areas such as technology, agriculture and poverty alleviation. President Dissanayake is also scheduled to visit strategic facilities and participate in high-level business forums aimed at enhancing economic collaboration and investment opportunities, according to a notice released by Sri Lanka's Presidential Office on Monday.
Dissanayake's visit to China demonstrates a firm "Rubber-Rice" friendship between China and Sri Lanka, Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Dissanayake's visit to China is being closely watched by Indian media.
"After India, Sri Lanka's president heads to China for key diplomatic talks," according to a video segment on Indian TV station NDTV's website.
During the visit of the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India in December 2024, some Indian media outlets diverted attention from India-Sri Lanka relations and instead sought to sow discord between China and Sri Lanka.
Experts suggest that, as an independent sovereign state, maintaining its own interests is paramount for the Sri Lankan government, which is expected to continue a balanced diplomatic approach.⍐
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