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| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
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Sri Lanka, China oppose terrorism, separatism, extremism by a Staff Reporter Sri Lanka and China "reaffirmed their opposition to the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism", said the joint communiqu‚ between the governments of the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka issued on the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Sri Lanka from April 8 - 9, 2005. China reiterated its commitment to support all endeavours of Sri Lanka to safeguard its sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and expressed its confidence in the ongoing efforts to reach a peaceful negotiated settlement of all issues involved, the Communiqu‚ added. Sri Lanka restated that there is but one China in the World, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. "Sri Lanka firmly pursues the one China policy, opposes Taiwan independence of whatever form, and supports all efforts of China to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, understands and supports the Anti-Secession Law deliberated and approved by the Third Session of the Tenth National People's Congress of China," said the Communiqu‚. China expressed its deep sympathy for the people of Sri Lanka affected by the tsunami disaster and expressed readiness to continue with assistance and support in post-tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation. Specific help was extended to rehabilitate the devastated fisheries industry and an undertaking was given to train Sri Lankan personnel in natural disaster advance warning and disaster mitigation. Agreement was reached to expand cooperation in various fields including resource development, housing, telecommunications and education. The two sides agreed to support and promote participation of Chinese enterprises in the construction of the Hambantota Bunkering system and Tank Farm Project, the Puttalam Coal Power Project, the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway Project, Colombo - Katunayake Airport Rail link Project, the Phosphate Mining and NPK Compound Fertilizer Project and the Kotte Sewerage System Project. China also promised to supply preferential export buyer's credit of US$ 300 million to support co-operation between Sri Lankan and Chinese enterprises. The two sides agreed to consult each other on international and regional affairs and recognised the importance of the United Nations in political, economic and social development. Both sides agreed that the next UN Secretary General should be from the Asian region. A series of Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding were signed during the visit of the Chinese Premier. They included the following: (1) Agreement on Further Development of Bilateral Economic and Trade Relationship (2) Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation providing a grant of RMB 50 (Rs. 600) million by China (3) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and (4) Memorandum of Understanding for the Hambantota Bunkering System and Tank Farm Project |
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