Sri Lanka, key shipping hub
Beijing promised to groom Sri Lanka into becoming a key shipping
centre in the Indian Ocean in turn for the country’s contribution in
China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative.
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the two countries
agreed to take up the 21st century maritime silk road as a top priority
in the bi-lateral agenda. He added, “China can help Sri Lanka to build
itself into a shipping centre in the Indian Ocean and accelerate the
process of improving the capacity for independent development.”
Minister Yi said the two countries agreed this will ‘better align’
the mutual development-strategy including Sri Lanka’s five year
development plan, in a joint press conference after holding a vital
round of bi-lateral discussions with his counterpart Mangala Samaraweera
and Ministers Ravi Karunanayake and Malik Samarawickrema at the Foreign
Ministry on Friday.
A comprehensive blueprint for future cooperation is to be put
together based on this strategy.
The 21st Century Maritime Silk Route Economic Belt is a Chinese
strategic initiative to increase investment and foster collaboration
across the historic Silk Road.
(MF)
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