Russia will stand by Sri Lanka - President Medvedev

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

The 15th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), was the major platform for Sri Lanka to renew its historical friendship with the two world giants - China and Russia. It is a great achievement that both of them pledged their support to Sri Lanka in its efforts in rebuilding the country in the aftermath of the three-decade long battle against terrorism.

"Russia will stand by Sri Lanka in all its efforts to rebuild the country", the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

"China will always support Sri Lanka to safeguard the country's independence and sovereignty", Chinese President Hu Jintao said.

The two leaders pledged their support to Sri Lanka, when they met their Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose name will go down in history as the leader who annihilated terrorism in Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa paid his first visit to Russia in February 2010 the first by a Sri Lankan Head of State after 36-years since former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike's visit in 1974. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the People's Friendship University in Kremlin at its 50th anniversary in recognition of his outstanding contribution towards fostering world peace. During his three-day visit in 2010, President Rajapaksa met Russian President Medvedev and thanked him for the strong support extended to Sri Lanka by Russia to defeat terrorism.

Sri Lanka's friendship with China and Russia goes back to many decades and it has further been strengthened at the Petersburg forum. It is said that the Forum would be a 'meeting place for emerging leaders in a new era'. At Sri Lanka's first participation at the Forum, we were able to consolidate our friendship with the two world leaders. It provided a strong platform for strengthening economic and political ties. Apart from being an observer at the Forum, President Rajapaksa had bilateral discussions with the world leaders attending the SPIEF.

Sri Lanka and Russia have always had a close and cordial relationship. President Rajapaksa, during the Forum sessions first met Russian President Medvedev. The meeting was held at Lenexpo Hall in Vasilevsky Island, the Forum venue. President Medvedev had assured President Rajapaksa that Russia will stand by Sri Lanka in all its efforts to rebuild the country emerging from the three-decade long battle against Tamil Tiger terrorism.

President Medvedev said Russia was aware of the pain and destruction caused by terrorism as it has also suffered from terror like Sri Lanka. " We both suffered from terrorism", he said to President Rajapaksa who commended Russia's continuing assistance for sustainable peace in Sri Lanka and unstinted cooperation to develop the country and also invited Russian investors to explore the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

The Russian President announced his willingness to visit Sri Lanka. The two leaders discussed ways and means of improving trade and investment between the two countries.

On Friday afternoon, President Rajapaksa held bilateral discussions with the Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Corintia Nevsky Hotel. The Chinese President assured that China would always support Sri Lanka to safeguard the country's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the two countries on regional and international affairs.

We respect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and oppose external forces intervening into its internal affairs, he said.

He also said under President Rajapaksa's leadership, Sri Lanka was politically well-stabilized and looking forward for an accelerated development. President China was ready to join hands with Sri Lanka to propel the all-round cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new height.

The two Presidents agreed that in recent years Sri Lanka-China relations had grown stronger. President Hu proposed to increase high-level contact, expand inter-governmental exchanges between government departments, political parties, and local governments, and boost bilateral exchanges at all levels.

Expressing his satisfaction over the progress made in resettling IDPs in the North and East and facilities provided for them, the Chinese President he pledged China's continuous support for Sri Lanka's development activities and also encouraged the Chinese entrepreneurs to explore investment in Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa in acknowledging the support provided by China to develop the country socially and economically said the Sri Lanka's relations with China were based on mutual respect, mutual trust, and friendship.

He commended that Sri Lanka was always ready to stand by China to advance their traditional friendship, and strengthen cooperation on regional and international issues and support China's drive to safeguard its own core interests. Meanwhile, the Spanish government yesterday said that the international community and the United Nations should help Sri Lanka in its post conflict development.

At a meeting held on Saturday, Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Zapatero told President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the international community and the UN should help Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa has briefed the Spanish Premier on the progress in resettling displaced people and also the government's efforts for reconciliation.

He has also briefed about the progress in economy after ending the three-decades war against LTTE terrorism.