The Sri Lankan government re-affirmed its support for the ‘One China Policy’ in a cabinet decision this week, ahead of Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China next week.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet agreed to the proposal put forward by foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath to continue abiding by the policy, a move thought to be a gesture that will strengthen bilateral ties between Beijing and Colombo.
“It is accepted that legitimate China is only the People’s Republic of China and, Thaiwan is only a province of China,” read the Sri Lankan decision.
In addition, the cabinet approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said it was one of multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions that were approved this week.
These include;
1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China
2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China
3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China
4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group
5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group
