China, Sri Lanka issue joint communiqué
[September 5, 2005 - 4.00 GMT]

China and Sri Lanka issued a joint communiqué in Beijing at the end of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's visit to China.

At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Kumaratunga paid a state visit to China from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. During the visit, official talks were held between the two Presidents.

The communiqué reviewed the talks between the two heads of state, saying that discussions on all issues were free and cordial.

According to the communiqué, Hu expressed deep condolences on the brutal assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, foreign minister of Sri Lanka.

The two sides expressed their strong condemnation of the terrorist act, resolved to relentlessly fight against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism and to consult and coordinate on regional and international action being taken to prevent such terrorist acts.

Kumaratunga briefed Hu on the situation in Sri Lanka subsequent to the assassination. She described the efforts being made to ensure stability in the country and efforts to achieve a durable peace essential for the welfare, safety and freedom of all communities in Sri Lanka, despite difficulties posed by the terrorist activities.

Hu expressed its appreciation for and confidence that these efforts would be successful and reiterated its full support for the unity, territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and national reconciliation, the communiqué says.

The communiqué says the Sri Lankan side reiterated its position that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.

It says Sri Lanka remains committed to its one China policy, opposes any form of Taiwan independence, supports all efforts by the Chinese Government to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, supports China's measures against the secessionist attempts by pro-Taiwan independence forces, and hopes to see an early reunification of China.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the steady development of political, economic and other activities in the China-Sri Lanka all-round cooperation partnership of sincere mutual support and ever-lasting friendship, according to the communiqué.

The Sri Lankan President expressed the grateful thanks of her people for the generous assistance offered in the aftermath of the tsunami including the reconstruction of fisheries harbors and the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Village on which work had commenced. The Chinese side offered to provide facilities for training of personnel in natural disaster prevention and mitigation.

The communiqué says the Sri Lankan side expressed thanks for the Preferential Buyers' Credit offered by China for implementing projects of development priority that had been agreed upon by both sides and identified by Sri Lanka to be implemented in cooperation with Chinese companies.

It says the Sri Lanka proposed its projects for priority development, which included the Hambantota Bunkering System and Tank Farm Project; the Puttalam Coal Power Project; the Express Rail Link Between Katunayake and Ratmalana and construction of the Colombo-Katunayake Airport Expressway. The Sri Lankan side requested Chinese financing for the above-mentioned projects. The Chinese side stated that it would encourage and support its financial institutions to effectively examine the request.

The communiqué says the two countries stressed the need for conditions of peace and stability and closer cooperation among Asian states to enable the development of the region.

It says Sri Lanka welcomed the efforts made by China for the six-party talks aimed at the denuclearization of the Korea Peninsula.

The communiqué says the two sides welcomed strengthening of ties between China and South Asian States following exchange of high level political and other visits and discussed the possibilities of setting up institutional links between the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation and China.

On the forthcoming 60th Session of the United Nations, in which both Kumaratunga and Hu are scheduled to participate, the communique says the two sides agreed that the UN reform should be effected on the basis of the widest possible consensus of the entire international community including the developing countries.

They agreed to continue consultations on all issues of mutual concerns in international arena including on practical action towards realization of the Millennium Development Goals, human rights and anti-terrorism, the communiqué says.

It says that the two sides also reiterated their view that the next Secretary General of the United Nations should be a representative of the Asian Region.

According to the communiqué, the two countries signed eight cooperative documents during Kumaratunga's visit covering cultural, economic, financial, tourist fields.

The communiqué says Kumaratunga invited Hu to visit Sri Lanka. Hu accepted the invitation with thanks and expressed his willingness to pay a state visit to Sri Lanka at a time of mutual convenience.

Source: Xinhua

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Last Updated Date: September 5, 2005 - 4.00 GMT