President Rajapaksa has returned to the island after an official successful tour of China. The Chinese President has acclaimed the economic growth achieved under the leadership of the Sri Lankan President.
The President left for Sri Lanka from the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai last night. Present at the airport to bid him farewell were many Senior Chinese Officials.
President Rajapaksa left the island in a SriLankan flight for Shanghai last Tuesday for China to participate in the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, along with a special delegation including Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Foreign Secretary Kshenuka Seneviratne, Presidential Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and Lt. Yoshitha Rajapaksa. On arrival at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, the President and delegation received a warm welcome under the patronage of the Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal Council. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda was also present.
On the same day a special banquet was hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the State Leaders including the Sri Lankan President who had arrived in China to participate in the Summit. The President posed a group photograph with the State Leaders.
A special cultural pageant was also organized on behalf of the visiting State Leaders.
The Sri Lankan President received an opportunity of holding bilateral talks with several State leaders who had arrived in China to participate in the conference.
The talks held with the Pakistani President helped to further solidify cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The statement made by the Pakistani President that Pakistan was always with President Rajapaksa earned accolades from the Sri Lankan President.
The Summit on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia opened under the patronage of the Chinese President. The Sri Lankan President also delivered a special address at the conference. In his speech President Rajapaksa underscored that peace, security and stability were imperative for progress and economic development of a nation or region. The emphasis laid by him to the regional leaders the need to work together to building a peace and stable new Asia came in for acclamation by the State Leaders.
On the same afternoon, the President had bilateral discussions with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. During this meeting the President invited the UN Chief to visit Sri Lanka again to see to himself the ground situation. Ban Ki-moon commended the President for the successful conduct of the World Conference on Youth in Sri Lanka.
The discussions the President had with his Iranian counterpart Hassen Rouhani helped to further strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Iran. Both leaders during the talks dealt at length on improving trade ties as well as strengthening the exchange of goods and services.
The highlight of these talks were the bilateral discussions held between the Sri Lankan President and the Chinese President. The rapid economic growth achieved by Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Rajapaksa came in for acclamation by President Xi Jinping. The Sri Lankan President expressed his thanks to the contribution made by China on behalf of development in the island nation.
The President’s official tour of China drew to a close with a special meeting with the Sri Lankans in China. The Sri Lanka warmly greeted the President. The President had a cordial discussion with the Sri Lankans. A group of Sri Lankan students pursuing studies in China also received the opportunity of having a discussion with the President.
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