China's foreign minister, Wang Yi said the country would help Sri Lanka build itself into a shipping centre in the Indian Ocean.
"We'll take the building of the maritime silk road as a priority to better align our development strategy including your five-year development plan so that we can come up with a comprehensive blue print for future cooperation, so that we can help Sri Lanka build itself into a shipping center in the Indian Ocean," Wang said whilst on a visit to Sri Lanka on Friday.
Mr Wang met with Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera as well as the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Rejecting fears that Sri Lanka's ties with China had a negative impact on other countries, Mr Wang said, "there is a consensus between China and Sri Lanka that our cooperation does not target any third country nor will it affect our respective relations with other countries."
"We stand ready to work more closely with other regional countries for the purpose of achieving common development."
"No matter what changes in the international situation and domestic agenda, our strategic and cooperative partnership will continue to develop," Mr Wang added.
Highlighting disputes over South China sea, Sri Lanka's foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera said, "Sri Lanka calls for the settlement of disputes and differences through constructive dialogue, consultation and cooperation by the parties concerned in accordance with international laws and practices."
See here, here and here.
"We'll take the building of the maritime silk road as a priority to better align our development strategy including your five-year development plan so that we can come up with a comprehensive blue print for future cooperation, so that we can help Sri Lanka build itself into a shipping center in the Indian Ocean," Wang said whilst on a visit to Sri Lanka on Friday.
Mr Wang met with Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera as well as the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Rejecting fears that Sri Lanka's ties with China had a negative impact on other countries, Mr Wang said, "there is a consensus between China and Sri Lanka that our cooperation does not target any third country nor will it affect our respective relations with other countries."
"We stand ready to work more closely with other regional countries for the purpose of achieving common development."
"No matter what changes in the international situation and domestic agenda, our strategic and cooperative partnership will continue to develop," Mr Wang added.
Highlighting disputes over South China sea, Sri Lanka's foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera said, "Sri Lanka calls for the settlement of disputes and differences through constructive dialogue, consultation and cooperation by the parties concerned in accordance with international laws and practices."
See here, here and here.