China says SL is a strategic partner

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena that they consider Sri Lanka a strategic partner as he expressed his wish to further boost relations between the two nations. “China has always placed Sri Lanka in an important diplomatic position in region,” Xi said. President Sirisena met with the Chinese Leader on Thursday in Beijing and held talks amid efforts to recalibrate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s strong pro-China policies.

The two sides were considered likely to discuss the 1.5 billion USD, China-funded port city project in Colombo, which the Sri Lankan government suspended pending scrutiny of environment impacts and alleged corruption, foreign media reported. President Sirisena’s administration has also ordered reviews on all Chinese-funded projects. According to reports, the President wishes to balance Sri Lanka’s China ties against those with India, since India has become increasingly concerned about new Chinese economic and military inroads in the Indian Ocean. (The Hindu)

Source- Dailymirrors.lk