The relationship between China and Sri Lanka has entered a new
stage of comprehensive cooperation, said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Wednesday.
Wen made the remarks while meeting with visiting Sri Lankan
President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is in Beijing to mark the 50th
anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
The two countries should "take the opportunity to consolidate
traditional friendship and promote mutually beneficial
cooperation," Wen said, calling for more reciprocal investments and
cooperation in the areas of agriculture, fishery, tourism,
infrastructure, and energy.
Top legislator Wu Bangguo held a separate meeting with
Rajapakse on Wednesday, pledging further parliamentary exchanges to
facilitate result-oriented trade cooperation and better bilateral
relations.
The two countries signed eight agreements on economic
cooperation, investment, movies, agriculture, and eye cornea
donations after President Hu Jintao held one-hour talks with
Rajapakse on Tuesday.
Rajapakse, on his first China visit since taking office, vowed
to enhance bilateral ties that have borne marked fruits.
Total trade volume between China and Sri Lanka reached
US$1.44129 billion in 2006, increasing by 16.9 percent over the
previous year, including US$1.10646 billion of exports and US$34.83
million of imports.
Rajapakse presented two corneas, a replica of a Buddha statue
and a five-year-old male elephant to China as gifts for the 50
years anniversary of diplomatic ties.?The corneas, from Sri
Lanka's renown "Eye Bank," will be donated to a Beijing
hospital.
During his weeklong visit, Rajapakse will also visit China's
business hub Shanghai, Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province, and central Hubei Province.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2007)
