Local News from Sri Lanka: Chen Min-Er who is the Member of the Central Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Maithripala Sirisena, discussed a wide range of subjects on bilateral relations, financial collaboration, and regional stability. Mr Chen Min-Er and a delegation from the CPC called yesterday (September 18) to the President’s Office for President Sirisena.
The President thanked China for more than 60 years of assistance extended to Sri Lanka and made a special mention of helping to defeat violent terrorists by providing contemporary arms and standing with Sri Lanka at global forums. He added that the individuals of Sri Lanka will never forget this assistance.
Mr Chen Min-Er thanked Sri Lanka for the early recognition given since the 1950s to Beijing, accepting the’ one China strategy’ and beginning trade ties under the Rubber-Rice Agreement even before diplomatic relations were established.
President Sirisena and Mr Chen Min-Er referred to President Xi Jinping’s successful visits to Sri Lanka and President Sirisena to China and said the visits resulted in further reinforcement of close friendship and collaboration between the two nations.
The President said the CPC leader’s current visit is also evident from the strong desire to ensure that existing friendly relationships and close economic cooperation will continue to increase.
They also discussed about increasing ties between CPC and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The CPC delegation requested the President Sirisena, who is also the Chairman of SLFP, to send a SLFP delegation to participate in the next CPC Convention. Vice President Nimal Siripala de Silva said that S W R D Bandaranaike founded the SLFP by incorporating the principle of middle path with the socialist policies of Chairman Mao Zedung. He said that the SLFP adapted the socialism and aligned it into the requirement of the Sri Lankan people.
Referring to Mr Chen Min-Er’s expertise in rural poverty eradication programmes, President Sirisena asked about poverty alleviation programmes in China. Mr Chen Min-Er explained in detail that since 2012, poverty was reduced through various programmes to empower rural masses. He said that President Xi Jinping has set out targets for officials to achieve poverty reduction goals within a time frame. President Sirisena acknowledged that the Chinese experience would be very useful to similar programmes in Sri Lanka to eradicate poverty.
Mr Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mr Mahinda Amaraweera, Mr Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Prof Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa represented the SLFP at tediscussion. Six members of the Chinese Communist Party attended the discussion. Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xeuyuan, Secretary to the President, Mr Udaya Seneviratne and Additional Secretary Esala Weerakoon were also present.
