China assures no hidden conditions to its assistance to Sri Lanka

By APD writer Easwaran

**COLOMBO, Mar. 28 (APD) - **China on Wednesday assured there are no hidden conditions attached to its assistance offered to Sri Lanka.

Cheng Xueyuan and

Lalith Samarakoon

The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan had given this assurance when he met the Secretary General of Sri Lanka's National Economic Council (NEC) and Chief Economist Professor Lalith Samarakoon, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

Ambassador Cheng said that China attaches great importance to the bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and is willing to implement the important consensus reached between both countries and actively push forward the practical cooperation under the framework of “Belt and Road” Initiative.

He said that both sides will receive the early harvest of the cooperation at the current stage which will bring more and more tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

"China never interferes in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka and never attaches additional conditions to its assistance to Sri Lanka," he said.

The Ambassador said that China will pursue building a new type of international relationship with Sri Lanka featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice and a win-win cooperation,

Cheng also briefed Samarakoon on the status of the ongoing cooperation and the bright prospects of joint mega-projects in Sri Lanka, and urged the NEC to jointly work together with China to promote cooperation.

Samarakoon highlighted that the primary goal of the current Sri Lankan Government is to develop the national economy which will benefit the people at grass-root level.

He believed that the “Belt and Road” Initiative has provided a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to achieve its goal.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)