The Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne expressed appreciation for China's support to Sri Lanka regarding its development and safeguarding of its state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Sri Lanka welcomes the active role China plays in the international community, the Premier has said.

The Prime Minister has hailed the bilateral friendship with China when he met the Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province on Sunday.

The Premier is in Kunming to attend the opening ceremony of the 19th China Kunming Import and Export Fair and the fourth South Asian Countries Trade Fair, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo noting the special relationship between the two countries that dates back over 2,000 years, has said that China cherishes its ties with Sri Lanka and is ready to make concerted efforts to reinforce traditional friendship.
"China is willing to see Sri Lanka achieve rapid and prosperous development, and is willing to see the development of emerging economies and developing countries," Dai has said.

The Chinese State Councilor has officially opened the five-day fair in Kunming. The fair runs until June 10.

Prime Minster Jayaratne has said the fair had become an important platform for the world, especially for the Asian countries to explore business opportunities.

Chinese State Councilor Dai has said that the two countries have bright prospects of practical cooperation.

"Both China and Sri Lanka currently have the heavy task of development, and there are bright prospects for the two countries to enhance practical cooperation," Xinhua quoting Dai said.

During the meeting that last about 50 minutes, the State Councilor has conveyed the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's greetings to the Sri Lankan PM. The Councilor has also congratulated the PM on his 80th birthday that falls on during his visit.

Meanwhile, speaking at the opening of the Sixth South Asia-China Business Forum, Prime Minister Jayaratne saida forum of this nature should create opportunities to promote greater cross border investments, support to increase South Asia exports to China and serve as a channel to China-South Asia economic integration.

“This year’s Business Forum, which is held on the theme Trade and investment between China and South Asia is most appropriate in the background of ever increasing shared trust in political affairs and development of economic and trade corporation between China and South-Asian countries,” the Premier said.

”The forum is an important mechanism established between Chinese and South Asian industrial and commercial circles, to strengthen mutual cooperation, to secure win-win results. In that respect, it is a most fitting theme for the Forum,” he said.

”This event provides special meaning because on one hand, South-Asia is strongly chasing the positive development of the South-Asian Free Trade Area. On the other hand, this cooperation will lay a solid foundation for the long-term plan of establishing the China-South Asia Free Trade Area.

In this regard, this forum will further enhance the South Asia-China Strategic Partnership. It is my fervent wish that the South Asia-China Business Forum should be made a long-term programme,” he said.

”The forum provided the much needed confidence to both China and South Asia to work together towards the regional prosperity and cooperation. We also have to take note of certain difficulties and problems that exist in South Asia-China trade and economic cooperation. Mutual understanding and support from the governments and business communities of both South-Asia and China are required to address these difficulties and problems,” he said.

Prime Minister Jayaratne proposed that China and South-Asia should take positive measures in the following areas, to speed up our cooperation and sort out whatever problems that may arise.

”Firstly, governments of South-Asia and China should work out appropriate economic and trade policies, to further support and promote regional economic and trade cooperation.

”Secondly, Chambers of Commerce and Business Communities of China and South Asia should strengthen and promote mutual understanding and trust. This should be done through holding seminars, business visits, and trade fairs, etc.

”Thirdly, we should extend mutual cooperation in various other fields, such as promoting two-way investment, strengthening technical cooperation, tourism promotion, etc.

”The flagship projects, that have been recently launched with the assistance of China namely Norochcholai Coal-Powered Power Project, Hambantota Port, Mattala Airport would give big boost to out economy.

”Among other outstanding donations to Sri Lanka, the BMICH, Superior Court Complex and performing Art Theatre Colombo stand as visible symbols of this strong friendship,” he said.