CHINA-SRI LANKA JOINT COMMUNIQUE
2005-09-04 00:00

1. At the invitation of His Excellency Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka paid a state visit to the People's Republic of China from 30th August to 2nd September 2005. During the visit, official talks were held between the two Presidents.

2. The President of Sri Lanka also met H.E. Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, H.E. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council, General Cao Gangchuan, State Councilor and Minister of Defence, State Councilor Chen Zhili and other leading ministers and officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, China National Tourism Administration and the Export-Import Bank of China. The President of Sri Lanka also visited Shanghai.

3. On 29th August, The President of Sri Lanka delivered the keynote address at the meeting of the Tenth Anniversary of the Beijing Women's Conference and had discussions with Mme. Wu Yi, Vice Premier on progress achieved on gender issues following the adoption of the historic Beijing declaration of 1995.

4. Discussions on all issues were free and cordial and reached broad areas of understanding demonstrating the warm friendship that characterizes the relationship between the two countries.

5. The President of China expressed deep condolences on the brutal assassination of the Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. The two sides expressed their strong condemnation of this act of terrorism. They 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.

6. The Sri Lanka President briefed the Chinese President on the situation in Sri Lanka subsequent to the assassination. The President 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 element. The Chinese side 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.

7. 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. 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.

8. 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.

9. The Sri Lanka President expressed the grateful thanks of her people for the generous assistance offered in the aftermath of the tsunami including the reconstruction of fisheries harbours 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.

10. The Sri Lanka 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. The Sri Lankan side 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.

11. The Sri Lanka side expressed its gratitude for the generous grant to be utilized to implement projects to be agreed upon through consultations.

12. It was noted that following signature of the Agreement for the Further Strengthening of Economic and Trade Relations (April 2005), the first meeting of the Supplementary Committee under the Agreement, had identified issues that needed to be addressed in consultations and exchanges on strengthening the China-Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Cooperation. Consultations through diplomatic channels would be held on the timing and the agenda for the forthcoming Session of the Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

During the visit, the Sri Lanka President participated in a China-Sri Lanka Promotion of Trade and Investment organized in association with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the increasing participation of Chinese companies under different forms of partnership in infrastructure improvement and the development process.

13. The two sides observed that the commencement of direct air links between their capitals had contributed to the increase of travel including tourist traffic between the two countries. Discussions will be pursued on possibilities of collaboration between Chinese airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines. They welcomed understandings between the tourist administration institutions of the two countries to encourage and support beneficial contacts and exchanges between their respective airlines, travel agencies, hotels and others in the tourist industries, and to promote collaboration through investment in the tourist sector. The Chinese side will welcome and facilitate promotional campaigns in the Chinese media by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

14. The two countries discussed the situation in the Asian Region. They stressed the need for conditions of peace and stability and closer cooperation among Asian states to enable the development of the region. The Sri Lanka side welcomed the efforts made by China for the Six Party Talks aimed at denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 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 institutional links between SAARC and China.

15. In discussions on the forthcoming 60th Session of the United Nations, in which both Presidents are scheduled to participate, it was agreed that reform of the Organization should be effected on the basis of the widest possible consensus of the entire international community including the developing countries. Sri Lanka and China agreed to continue consultations on all issues of mutual concern in international fora including on practical action towards realization of the Millennium Development Goals, human rights and anti-terrorism. The two sides reiterated their view that the next Secretary General of the United Nations should be a representative of the Asian Region.

16. In accordance with the Protocol on Bilateral Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries, consultations would take place through diplomatic channels on the date for its next meeting.

17. The following Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were signed during the visit:

i. Agreement on Cultural Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

ii. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

iii. Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation Between the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Tourism of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

iv. Exchange of Note on the Establishment of Consulate in Shanghai Between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

v. Memorandum of Understanding for Joint-Establishment of Confucius Institute in Sri Lanka Between the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Education of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

vi. General Agreement Regarding Utilization of the Preferential Buyer's Credit from the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Between the Export-Import Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

vii. Design Contract on the National Performing Arts Theatre of Sri Lanka

viii. Memorandum of Understanding for Puttlam Coal Power Plant Project in Sri Lanka between China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation and Ceylon Electricity Board of Sri Lanka.

18. The President of Sri Lanka expressed her deep gratitude for the warm and friendly hospitality accorded to her and the Sri Lanka delegation by the Government and people of the People's Republic of China. The President of Sri Lanka H.E. Kumaratunga invited the President of the People's Republic of China H.E. Hu Jintao to visit Sri Lanka. H.E. Hu Jintao accepted the invitation with thanks and expressed his willingness to pay a state visit to Sri Lanka at a time of mutual convenience.