Former Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has embarked on a four-day tour of China and met with the country’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sun Weidong.
He was warmly welcome by Chinese officials. During his meeting with Minister Weidong, the Minister recalled the Chinese premier’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2014, under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government
China's growth rate is setting a benchmark for developing countries such as Sri Lanka. We are impressed by the role that China is playing today in strengthening the economies of countries in Africa. We also follow with interest the leading role that China is now playing in facing up to the challenges of climate change and protection of the environment".
He further claimed that relations between China and Sri Lanka are at the highest levels of friendship and understanding.
China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral lender owning 52 per cent of the $40 billion external debt when Sri Lanka announced its sovereign default in 2022. China has also played an active role in shielding Sri Lanka from international criticism over its dire human rights record as evidenced by repeated rejections of the United Nations Human Right Council’s resolution.
Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to participate in the conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
