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“Today as we commemorate the 45th Anniversary of diplomatic relations, I am confident that bilateral cooperation between our two countries will be strengthened for the greater good of our countries and the people,” President Chandrika Kumaratunga said in a message issued to mark the occasion. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said in his message that Sri Lanka and China are heirs to a glorious cultural heritage that goes back to several millennia and relations between the two countries have been very close from the first century A. D.
His Excellency Jiang Zemin President of the People’s Republic of China Your Excellency, It gives great pleasure to convey my personal greetings and that of all Sri Lankans to Your Excellency and the Chinese people on the occasion of celebrating the 45th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China. The ties that bind Sri Lanka and China date back into the mist of time. The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1957 no doubt, gave a new identity and impetus to this relationship. It is a matter for satisfaction that over the last 45 years these ties of close relationship have been steadily consolidated. Today as we commemorate the 45th Anniversary of diplomatic relations, I am confident that bilateral cooperation between our two countries will be strengthened for the greater good of our countries and the people. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga President Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka His Excellency Zhu Rongji Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China Your Excellency, On the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, I am pleased to extend cordial greetings and best wishes to you and through you to the citizenry of the People’s Republic of China. Our two countries and societies are heirs to a glorious cultural heritage that goes back several millennia. According to historical records the relations between our two countries have been very close from the first century AD and there had been many visits between the two countries in the past. The visit of the Buddhist monk Fahien to Sri Lanka to study the Buddhist scriptures in the fifth century AD is well known. Our historical and cultural ties have been very close until the colonial era, which started in the sixteenth century in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was one of the earliest countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China after its establishment. Our two countries signed the historic Rubber-Rice Pact in 1952, which is a landmark in our relationship. Sri Lanka-China ties entered a new phase on that historic day, 45 years ago, when on 7th February 1957, diplomatic relations were formally established. There has been no looking back ever since as our relations have been progressively consolidated in many areas of common endeavour and concern. In this context, I consider my meeting with Your Excellency, during your official visit to Sri Lanka, in May 2001, as yet another manifestation of the multifaceted ties that have bound our two countries into an enduring relationship. May the ties between Sri Lanka and China flourish for the mutual well being of our peoples and countries. Ranil Wickremasinghe Prime Minister Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
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The
President’s Message:
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Sri Lanka and China celebrated the 45th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two
countries on February 7.
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