FM to open Sri Lanka Consulate in Shanghai

[Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 4.40 GMT] 

The Sri Lanka Consulate in Shanghai will be opened by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during his scheduled official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 19^th to 21^st December 2007.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his state visit to the People’s Republic of China February this year announced that a Consulate will be set up in Shanghai in order to enhance the economic ties between the two countries which have remained close friends. Thereby the opening of the Consulate has been scheduled for 20^th December 2007.The Foreign Minister will be attending the opening ceremony which be also graced by the Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, Tang Dengjie and Chairman of the China Council for Promotion of international Trade Shanghai Sub Council, Cen Furong.

This event will be attended by representatives of the Consular Corps, prominent business as well as travel, trade and the media personnel based in Shanghai.

Year 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic ties.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on an invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao visited China in February this year and eight agreements on economy, investment, movies, agriculture and eye corneas donation were signed between the two countries during this visit.

Total trade volume between China and Sri Lanka reached 1.44129 billion U.S. dollars in 2006, increasing by 16.9 percent over the previous year, including 1.10646 billion U.S. dollars of exports and 34.83 million U.S. dollars of imports.