On the afternoon of January 15, 2025, President Xi Jinping held talks with President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is in China for a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Sri Lanka enjoy a traditional friendship. Bilateral relations have maintained sound and stable development over the past 68 years, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between different countries. With joint efforts from both sides, the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship continues to develop with in-depth progress. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. At present, China-Sri Lanka relations are facing a historic opportunity to both build on past success and forge ahead into the future. The two countries should have a keen grasp of bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future.
Xi Jinping stressed that China always takes Sri Lanka as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and will continue to support Sri Lanka in maintaining its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and support the country in exploring a development path suitable for its national conditions. China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to deepen political mutual trust, exchange governance experience, and enhance dialogue and communication between various departments of the two countries. China's efforts in further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese modernization will bring new opportunities for Sri Lanka's development. China will actively support Sri Lanka in focusing on economic development and the two countries should jointly create new highlights in promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as well as cooperation in modern agriculture, digital economy, maritime economy and other fields. Xi Jinping called for strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance the connectivity between the two peoples. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Sri Lanka within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations to jointly address major issues concerning human development, including climate change. He called for pooling the joint efforts of the Global South for solidarity and strength to contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he is delighted to visit China at the beginning of the New Year. Noting that Sri Lanka admires China's great development achievements in economy, science and technology, infrastructure and other fields, he said China has always been a reliable friend and partner of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka attaches great importance to its relations with China, firmly abides by the one-China principle, and appreciates China's invaluable support for Sri Lanka in safeguarding independence, sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests. Sri Lanka is committed to enhancing regional connectivity through the Belt and Road cooperation, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country. Sri Lanka is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, finance, poverty reduction, digital transition, tourism, marine industry and personnel training. China plays a significant leading role in the Global South, as well as a constructive role in international affairs. The Sri Lankan side is willing to continue strengthening coordination and mutual support with China on multilateral occasions to safeguard common interests.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan and several bilateral cooperation documents on the export of agricultural products to China, social welfare, and news and broadcasting.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
A 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square. The guard of honor lined up in salutation. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Sri Lanka. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Anura Kumara Dissanayake reviewed the honor guard of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People in the evening.
Wang Yi was present at the above events.
