Beijing, 22 July 2022 (TDI): China and Sri Lanka have reaffirmed that regime change or the appointment of Dinesh Gunawardena as the Prime Minister of the country will not affect bilateral ties between the two countries.
Dinesh Gunawardena took oath as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 22nd July. The Sri Lankan President took his oath.
Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena took oath as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka today, 22.07.2022, before H.E. the President. pic.twitter.com/i16pXZbjTw
— Sri Lanka Embassy in China (@SLembassycn) July 22, 2022
Amid political and economic turmoil in the Asian Island country, the country has undergone a regime change. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said that China and Sri Lanka are neighbors and share a traditional friendship.
He shed light on China and Sri Lanka’s ties in response to a question at a press conference on Thursday. Furthermore, the Spokesperson remarked that China and Sri Lanka have always respected, trusted, and supported each other.
China will as always follow a friendly policy toward Sri Lanka, and support and help the efforts of the Sri Lankan government and people in stabilizing the situation and recovering the economy to the best of our capacity. pic.twitter.com/1uDBem60qq
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) July 21, 2022
Moreover, he said the strategic cooperative partnership between the two neighbors is based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship. He added that the two sides have “comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas.”
On the other hand, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, Palitha Kohona has emphasized his confidence that bilateral relations between the two partner countries would not be affected by a change in government.
#SriLankan Ambassador to #China Dr. Palitha Kohona used 3 words to describe🇨🇳🇱🇰relations as friendly, warm & mutually supportive. He shared observations on🇨🇳 & proudly introduced 🇱🇰 to Chinese friends. Take a look at Amb Kohona’s interview with CGTN. https://t.co/cU6cAcKUSL
— Ji Rong嵇蓉 (@JiRongMFA) July 20, 2022
Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis
The Chinese Spokesperson Wang Wenbin, while commenting on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, said that China will continuously adopt a friendly policy toward Sri Lanka.
He added that China is ready to help and support the Sri Lankan government and the people in stabilizing and rejuvenating the economy of the country and improving and taking bilateral ties to “new heights”.
Commenting on the US official’s accusation against China vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, Wang Wenbin said that it was baseless and that it cannot stop the truth from the Sri Lankan people.
He further added that such actions cannot hold back the deepening of China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation. In addition, China has recognized the new government in Sri Lanka.
President Xi Jinping has shown resolve to continue the friendly bilateral ties between the two countries by supporting the new government in the ongoing crisis. Chinese Foreign Ministry has also reiterated the same.
Chinese FM said China will continue to adhere to its friendly policy toward Sri Lanka & is ready to provide support to the Sri Lankan government and people so as to advance bilateral relations after Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as Sri Lanka’s president. pic.twitter.com/PLh5w1WAv6
— Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) July 21, 2022
Since the beginning of the Sri Lankan Economic crisis, China has aided the country in various forms. Recently, for instance, two batches of rice under 500 million RMB in terms of emergency humanitarian assistance arrived in Colombo, in mid-July.
Two batches of 500 MTs rice under 🇨🇳500 million RMB emergency humanitarian assistance arrived in Colombo on 16th & 19th July. So far, 3,000 MTs of rice has been handed over to 🇱🇰 MoE for 1.1 million children in 7,900 schools across the island under the School Meal Program. pic.twitter.com/lK8h5xHrK7
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) July 21, 2022
Nevertheless, it is pertinent here to note that Sri Lanka is a major Belt and Road Initiative partner and a close ally of the People’s Republic of China.
