Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. [Photo/Xinhua]
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has called for stronger collaboration with China as her government pursues an ambitious program of economic and social transformation, highlighting China's continued role as a key partner in the island nation's recovery and development.
During her visit to Beijing this week, Amarasuriya, who was sworn in as Sri Lanka's third female prime minister in September 2024, attended the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women and met with President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials.
In an exclusive interview with China Daily, she described the meetings as "productive", while reaffirming Sri Lanka's commitment to ensuring the smooth implementation of ongoing joint projects and seeking China's support for new initiatives in infrastructure, energy and education.
Amarasuriya cited major joint ventures such as the Colombo Port City, the Hambantota Port and the Central Expressway as central to her country's growth strategy.
She said that China's support in education and human capital development, through modernization programs and scholarships, has made a significant impact on Sri Lanka's development capacity.
"We're undergoing a real transformation at many levels, and we would like China's cooperation and support in ensuring that transformation stays on track and delivers results for the people of Sri Lanka," she said.
Amarasuriya also lauded the commitment made by Xi to gender equality and women's empowerment globally during the opening ceremony of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women on Monday.
"The initiatives that he mentioned for taking this agenda forward, I think, are extremely important at this moment, and give all of us a lot of hope that this work can continue, and that this work will have the backing of progressive leaders and progressive thinkers," she said.
This support is especially important at a moment when "there is also a very regressive discourse and narrative taking place on women's rights, on gender equality and on reproductive rights", she said. "It was Chairman Mao who said women hold up half the sky, but we're not there yet. We have a long way to go, so there's work to be done," she added.
Recalling the 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact that laid the foundation for modern cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, Amarasuriya noted the symbolic depth of the two countries' relations. "I think what is unique is that our two governments are very aligned in their thinking and in their ideology," she said, adding that the next chapter of bilateral ties should focus on people-to-people relations and shared cultural values.
Amarasuriya encouraged more Chinese consumers and businesses to engage with Sri Lanka, citing its tea, cinnamon and gemstone industries, as well as its growing appeal as a tourist and investment destination.
"Tourism is very important to us, and we are rapidly becoming a favorite destination for Chinese people," she said, adding that Sri Lanka also positions itself as a reliable and safe destination for Chinese entrepreneurs and investors.
Amarasuriya's first official visit to Beijing included stops at the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. "It's been an excellent trip," she said.
今年春节假期琼州海峡客滚运输量较去年大幅增长 中新网广州2月19日电 (郭军 喻志专 赵卓)据交通运输部珠江航务管理局(简称“珠航局”)消息：2024年春节假期期间(2月10日至17日，正月初一至初八)，琼州海峡省际客滚 刚被罚款3.55亿美元后 特朗普“带货”球鞋 中新网2月19日电 据美联社消息，当地时间17日，美国前总统特朗普在一场商业活动中带货了一双“特朗普”牌的金色球鞋，引发热议。 据报道，特朗普当天在费城会议中心举行 外媒关注中国春节新变化：年味更浓、消费强劲、旅游更热 中新网2月18日电(魏晨曦)2024年春节是农历新年被确定为联合国假日的第一个春节，浓浓的年味，丰富的美食，消费的热潮……中国人把春节过出了新高度，中国经济的 中国春节跨境游回暖：免签效应强，入境消费火 中新社北京2月18日电 (记者 夏宾)“双向奔赴”的跨境旅游在中国春节假期回暖。 随着中国对多个国家单方面免签证，与新加坡、马来西亚互免签证，推出一系列入境游便利 中新经纬2月23日电 题：马面裙脱销背后，品牌价值尚待深挖 作者 李杰 中新经纬特约专家、山东工艺美术学院服装学院院长 近年来，汉服消费愈加火热，特别是这个春节里马面裙再次火爆出圈，无疑带动了一轮文化消费热。 2023年北京高精尖产业新设市场主体占比提升至66.1% 中新网北京2月22日电 (记者 吕少威)京津冀协同发展十年来，北京科技、商务、文化、信息等高精尖产业新设市场主体占比由2013年的40.7%上升至2023年的66.1%。 。本文链接：Sri Lankan PM eyes stronger cooperation with Chinahttp://www.sushuapos.com/show-5-72832-0.html
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