ChinesePresidentXiJinpingmeetswithSriLankanPrimeMinisterDineshGunawardena,whoisonanofficialvisittoChina,attheGreatHallofthePeopleinBeijing,capitalofChina,March27,2024.(Xinhua/ZhaiJianlan)BEIJING,March27(Xinhua)--ChinesePresidentXiJinpingmetwithSriLankanPrimeMinisterDineshGunawardenainBeijingonWednesday.NotingthatthefriendshipbetweenChinaandSriLankaenjoysalonghistoryandthetwopeoplesshareanaturalaffinity,XisaidconsolidatingandpromotingChina-SriLankarelationsservesthefundamentalinterestsandreflectsthecommonexpectationsofthetwopeoples.ChinaiswillingtoworkwithSriLankatocarryforwardthespiritoftheRubber-RicePact,whichischaracterizedby"independence,self-reliance,unityandmutualsupport,"toconsolidatepoliticalmutualtrust,enhanceexchangesofexperienceingovernance,expandpracticalcooperation,andadvancethehigh-qualityBeltandRoadcooperation,Xisaid.HenotedthatChinaandSriLankashouldjoinhandstoadvancetheirstrategiccooperativepartnershipfeaturingsinceremutualassistanceandever-lastingfriendship.ChinafirmlysupportsSriLankainsafeguardingnationalsovereignty,independenceandnationaldignity,andinexploringamodernizationpathsuitedtoitsnationalconditions,Xisaid,addingthatChinawillcontinuetoprovidedueassistancewithinitscapacityforSriLanka'seconomicandsocialdevelopment.Hesaidthatbothsidesshouldmakejointeffortstopromotehigh-qualityBeltandRoadcooperation,especiallythatofthetwoflagshipprojects,theColomboPortCityandtheHambantotaPort.ChinaandSriLankashouldalsoworktogethertoenhancelogistics,energyandindustrialcooperation,andpromoteexchangesandcooperationindigitaleconomy,greeneconomy,cleanenergy,culture-orientedtourismandmarineeconomy.Chinawillcontinuetoimportmorehigh-qualityspecialtyproductsfromSriLanka,encourageChineseenterprisestoinvestanddobusinessinthecountry,andhopesthatthebusinessenvironmentinSriLankawillbefairandtransparent,Xisaid.HeaddedthatChinaiswillingtoadvancecooperationwithSriLankaonruralpovertyreduction,tohelpthecountrywitheconomictransformationandupgrading,andwithsustainabledevelopment.ThetwosidesshouldcontinuetomaintaintheFivePrinciplesofPeacefulCoexistence,enhancecoordinationoninternationalandregionalaffairs,safeguardthecommoninterestsofbothsides,upholdinternationalfairnessandjustice,andpromotetheconstructionofacommunitywithasharedfutureforhumanity,Xistressed.NotingthatSriLankaandChinaenjoyatraditionalfriendship,GunawardenasaidthatSriLankaadheresunswervinglytotheone-Chinaprinciple,unequivocallyfollowsthepolicyoffriendlycooperationwithChina,andgivesChinapriorityonitsdiplomaticagenda.HeexpressedappreciationforChina'sassistancetoSriLankaintimesofdifficulty,sayingthatprojectssuchastheColomboPortCityandtheHambantotaPorthaveboostedSriLanka'seconomicandsocialdevelopment,aswellastheoveralldevelopmentoftheregion.SriLankawilltakepartintheChina-proposedGlobalDevelopmentInitiative,GlobalSecurityInitiativeandGlobalCivilizationInitiative,saidGunawardena,addingthatthecountrywillworkwithChinatopromotebilateralfriendship,expandcooperationontradeandeconomy,education,tourism,povertyreductionandotherfields,andimproveinternationalandmultilateralcommunicationandcoordination.ChinesePresidentXiJinpingmeetswithSriLankanPrimeMinisterDineshGunawardena,whoisonanofficialvisittoChina,attheGreatHallofthePeopleinBeijing,capitalofChina,March27,2024.(Xinhua/ZhaiJianlan)Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.