China initiates Sister City program

A four-member delegation from the Xi’an City Municipality of China is visiting Sri Lanka to explore developing a Sister City, initially with Kandy and or Colombo.

The delegation has invited the Mayor of Colombo or Kandy to attend the ‘2015 Euro-Asia Economic Forum’ in Xi’an in September.

The delegation also met Founder, Pathfinder Foundation Milinda Moragoda at his Peliyagoda office and discussed the potential for cooperation between the cities, in the areas of culture, heritage preservation and tourism on mutual benefits for both countries.

Chairman PF, Bernard Goonetilleke, Executive Director PF, Lakshman Siriwardena and Project Manager, Ameera Arooz, also participated. Xi’an City is one of the most prominent cities in China, being the centre of the ancient Silk Road. It is also the birthplace of President, Xi Jinping.

The city is internationally famous for historic sculptures of Terra Cotta warriors which attract millions of tourists every year. Forming a Sister City relationship with a historically important city in Sri Lanka will benefit mostly the local city in terms of cultural and educational exchanges, business-to-business relationships and in promoting Chinese tourism to Sri Lanka.

The Foundation has already developed Track II dialogues with the US, India and Japan, while a similar initiative with China is in progress.

LBT