Aerial photo taken on April 2, 2020 shows the Marshall Islands-based Mt. Melody bunkering ship arriving at Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka. The port stands as a major cooperation project between China and Sri Lanka. (Photo by Liu Hongru/Xinhua)
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested Wednesday that China and Sri Lanka, while ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control, gradually resume practical cooperation in various fields, advance major cooperation projects in an orderly manner and promote the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.
Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation in the night with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, adding that such efforts will provide impetus for Sri Lanka's economic recovery.
Xi recalled that various sections of Sri Lankan society offered China active support at a critical moment in China's fight against the coronavirus disease, with many moves particularly heart-warming and touching.
He noted that under Gotabaya's strong leadership, Sri Lanka has effectively contained the spread of the epidemic, adding that China stands ready to continue to provide firm support and as much assistance as its capacity allows for the South Asian country in line with its needs.
Chinese Embassy Charge d'affaires Hu Wei (4th R) and Sri Lankan Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi (front, 4th L) attend the handover ceremony of medical aid from China in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 27, 2020. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)
The Chinese president expressed his confidence that the people of Sri Lanka will certainly defeat the epidemic at an early date.
Xi thanked the Sri Lankan government and people for taking care of Chinese citizens in their country during the pandemic, and said the Chinese side will continue to ensure the safety and health of Sri Lankan citizens on its soil.
China, he added, is willing to work with Sri Lanka and the broader international community to continue to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in playing a leading role, promote global cooperation on joint COVID-19 prevention and control, and win the battle for the safety and health of all people across the world.
China and Sri Lanka are strategic cooperation partners that enjoy sincere mutual help and an everlasting friendship, said Xi, adding that their friendly ties and mutual trust have withstood various tests and been uplifted once again in the joint fight against the pandemic.
Students in Devi Balika Vidyalaya, a girls' school, make a card featuring "We Love China" in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)
For his part, Gotabaya said that under Xi's strong leadership, China's fight against COVID-19 has made remarkable achievements, and the Chinese people have demonstrated extraordinary wisdom and strength.
Noting that Sri Lanka and China enjoy a long-running friendship with cooperation in various fields advancing smoothly, he said China has over the years provided tremendous valuable support and help for his country's economic and social development, for which the Sri Lankans are deeply grateful.
The Sri Lankan president added that he appreciates the vision put forward by Xi of building a community with a shared future for mankind and agrees on supporting the WHO in playing a leading role in global anti-epidemic cooperation.
Sri Lanka is willing to work with China to enhance exchanges and cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, tourism and infrastructure, and smoothly push forward major Belt and Road cooperation projects such as Colombo Port City, he said, adding that his country welcomes more investment from and cooperation with Chinese enterprises.
The Sri Lanka side, he added, stands ready to work with China to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. ■
