China confident its relationship with Sri Lanka will grow stronger

By APD writer Easwaran Rutnam

COLOMBO, Jan.21 (APD) --

China on Sunday said that it is confident that the friendship with Sri Lanka will grow stronger.

Cheng Xueyuan, the Ambassador-designate of the People's Republic of China to Sri Lanka arrived at Colombo on Sunday.

The Chinese Embassy in Colombo said that Cheng and his family were received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by representatives from the Protocol Division of the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka-China friendship associations, overseas Chinese enterprises and communities, as well as Chinese Embassy officials.

"We are fully confident that our great friendship has been becoming closer and closer as time goes on. As the 21st Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I sincerely wish to make great friends with people of all circles on this Island, and look forward to promoting the China-Sri Lanka strategic partnership as well as join building the Belt and Road Initiative, and implementing the cooperative agreements. Under the great guidance from leaders of our twocountries, we are ready to jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community of shared destiny and improve the wellbeing of the two peoples," Cheng Xueyuan said on arriving in Colombo.

He said that China and Sri Lanka will work together to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

"Ever since my middle school age, I learned from geography and history textbooks about this picturesque country of Ceylon, locating to the southeast of the Indian Subcontinent and at the centre of the vast Indian Ocean. With pure beaches, abundant flora and fauna, ancient cities and castles, and great Buddhist traditions, its people are hard-working, brave, talented and kind, not to mention they are enthusiastic, generous and gifted in many ways. In Sri Lanka, flowers and smiles reflect each other and could be seen everywhere. There are not only splendid gemstones, fragrant Ceylon tea, vast bluewaters, but also mountains, rivers, elephants and monkeys, to name just a few. I fall in love with this beautiful country from the bottom of my heart. And I am looking forward to experiencing its rich history, culture and customs, and cheering every change and achievement its people have made," the envoy said.

He noted that the friendship between China and Sri Lanka dates back a couple of millennium and China strongly believes that the history-tested friendship between the two peoples is the solid foundation of excellent relations between the two countries.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)