A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said Sri Lanka's new president, Maithripala Sirisena, had assured them he was committed to good strategic cooperation with china and that he would "ensure the proceeding of major cooperation projects between the two countries that are under construction and the development of all-round cooperation."

Asked about reports that policies of Sri Lanka's new government's were not favourable to China, the spokesperson, Hong Lei, said:

"China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbors. Our relationship has withstood the test of time, and is founded on a solid footing. Cooperation between China and Sri Lanka in various fields serves the aspirations and interests of the two peoples."

"In a reply message to President Xi Jinping, President Sirisena said that he is committed to elevating Sri Lanka-China strategic partnership of cooperation to a new level, and will create favorable conditions for the expansion of Sri Lanka-China economic and trade cooperation and China's investment in Sri Lanka. He will ensure the proceeding of major cooperation projects between the two countries that are under construction and the development of all-round cooperation."

"We set a high value on the positive attitude towards growing China-Sri Lanka relations taken by President Sirisena and Sri Lanka's new government, and are fully confident of the prospects of China-Sri Lanka relations."

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