“The Chinese government and people will always stand firmly with the Sri Lankan government and people” – Ambassador Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong welcoming guests to the reception held at the Shangri-La Hotel on Wednesday [25] to celebrate the  75th anniversary of the founding  of the People’s Republic of China, reiterated  that history has proven that the Chinese government and people have always stood firmly with the Sri Lankan government and people in the face of traditional or non-traditional threats and will continue to do so in the future no matter how the international situation changes.

The Chinese Ambassador said that the friendship between China and Sri Lanka spanned even before the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1957. “Over the past 67 years, China and Sri Lanka have been supporting each other based on principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits”

Congratulating Sri Lanka on the successful presidential election he added that the The people of Sri Lanka have now entered a new era and are writing a new chapter of their history.

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said that he believed that with the support and assistance from China and other friendly countries, and under the strong leadership of President Dissanayake, the diligent, intelligent, and heroic people of Sri Lanka will definitely overcome all sorts of risks and challenges, fully recover from the current crisis, and revive national economy to achieve prosperity.

Sri Lanka, as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” will shine brighter. The China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship will continue to gain great momentum on a higher level and Sri Lanka the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ will shine brighter he added.

Sri Lanka’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath was the Chief Guest at the celebration which was attended by a distinguished gathering including former Presidents Mahinda Rajapakse and Maithripala Sirisena, former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ambassodors, former members of Parliament  and members of the armed forces.