Sri Lanka PM leaves for China to attend Belt and Road Forum

**COLOMBO, May 13 (APD) - **Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday left for China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14-15 in Beijing, the prime minister's office said.

Wickremesinghe's office said that leaders of 30 countries will be taking part in the high-level round table discussions that will be conducted at the summit. The forum is expected to pay special attention to the benefits that can be derived by countries through the Belt and Road initiative.

The Sri Lankan Premier was accompanied by several ministers and officials which include International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema and Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayake.

Sri Lanka is aiming to boost its ties with China further by being a part of the Belt and Road initative.

Already under the Belt and Road initiative, China has launched mega projects in the island country amounting to millions of dollars which has benefitted the people and upgraded their livelihoods.

Earlier this year, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, in a mesage sent to the Chinese leaders to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka said Chinas Belt and Road Initiative has not only strengthened bilateral ties but has opened up new areas for cooperation.Sirisena noted that Sri Lanka is firmly dedicated to promoting its relations with China and that he believed on the basis of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, the Belt and Road Initiative will open up a new era for Sri Lanka-China cooperation.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)