Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong has declared that in spite of major changes in the political scene here and elsewhere, the overall China-Sri Lanka foreing releations remain the same.Ambassador Zhenhong said so in the East during a two-day visit (Sept 5 and 6), his second to the region within 3 months. The top Chinese envoy was accompanied by his wife Jin Qian.

The Chinese Embassy quoted Ambassador Zhenhong as having said: “Over the past three months, there have been many major changes in Sri Lanka and the world. But we are pleased to see that the overall situation of China-Sri Lanka traditional friendship and the momentum of common development have not changed. The mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual support between our two countries and the two peoples have not changed either. The main reason is because our bilateral friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.”

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Governor of Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath at the latter’s secretariat in Trincomalee on the afternoon of 5th Sept. The embassy quoted the envoy as having told Yahampath: “Promises must be kept, and action must be resolute”.

The Ambassador has updated the officials on the progress of China’s assistance following his previous visit 3 months ago. The Ambassador also highlighted that encouraged by the embassy and invited by the EP government together with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, some Chinese enterprises had visited Trincomalee Port recently to explore future cooperation.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Qi handed over 22 Smart Boards (75-inch & 65-in, worth LKR 21 million) for distance education to the principals of 20 schools across the Eastern Province. The program was funded by China’s Yunnan Provincial Government as a follow-up of its food packages donation (worth LKR 55 million) to 10,000 needy families from EP in May. Witnessed by the Ambassador and Governor Yahampath, Chief Secretary of Eastern Province Mr. Thusitha Wanigasinghe and Director of Yunnan Commercial Office in Sri Lanka Mr. Hu Kai signed a MOU to provide 70 sets of solar streetlight systems (worth LKR 13 million) to schools in the Eastern Province by Yunnan.

On the morning of 6th, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Madam Jin Qian visited the Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Eastern University in Batticaloa and handed over Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship (a total of LKR 4.3 million) to 150 students (mainly girls) from underprivileged families of all ethnicities in the University to help their study and daily life for up to 7 months. Professor Vallipuram Kanagasingam, Vice Chancellor of Eastern University and Dr. K.E. Karunakaran, Deputy Vice Chancellor together with deans, teachers, students and their parents attended the event.

In his keynote speech, the Chinese Envoy talked to the Sri Lankan youth.

As a conclusion, Ambassador Qi pointed out that “Youth is the future of a country and the future of the friendship between two countries. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka, and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact. I sincerely wish all the students to study hard, grow strong, and become new backbone of Sri Lanka and China-Sri Lanka friendship as soon as possible.”

On the afternoon of 6th, Ambassador Qi and the delegates from the Chinese embassy were invited by the Batticaloa District Civil Society to visit Kaluwankerni, an underdeveloped Tamil fishing village in Batticaloa which has been suffering from domestic conflicts, natural disasters, Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis. After laying a foundation stone for a housing scheme funded by the embassy for 10 most needy families in Kaluwankerni, the Chinese Ambassador talked to about 50 villagers representatives gathering at the ceremony and stressed it is his duty as Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka to strengthen friendly cooperation with all ethnic groups in the Eastern Province. “China will, as always, provide all-out help for Sri Lanka to get out of current difficulties.” said Qi.