The Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa praised China's Maritime Silk Road initiative and pledged to join China in working towards it, in an interview with Chinese state media, Xinhua, published Saturday.
"Since I took office of the president, I have toured China for seven times, during which I have met President Xi Jinping in several occasions," said Rajapaksa.
"China accounts for the biggest number of my working travel destination and I am looking forward to President Xi's visit."
"Our cooperation covers many sectors including industry, energy, technology, infrastructure and tourism," he added.
His praise comes as Sri Lanka and China signed over 20 agreements, including the construction of Colombo Port City. China Harbour Company Limited will invest over US$ 1.4 billion into this.
"Over 276 hectares will be reclaimed from the sea by the Chinese company and one third of this land is developed by the Chinese company," Sri Lanka's MoD site stated.
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