Deepening Partnership, Expanding Cooperation, and Carrying Forward a Traditional Friendship

A Strategic Partnership

China and Sri Lanka share a close and enduring friendship, marked by sincere cooperation and high-level interactions. In response to media reports about Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's planned visit to China in mid-January, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the visit and emphasized China's commitment to maintaining the momentum of high-level engagement with Sri Lanka.

Mao Ning highlighted China's desire to further strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries and expand cooperation in various fields. This collaboration aims to deliver tangible benefits for both peoples.

President Dissanayake's announcement of his upcoming visit to China follows his recent trip to India, his first overseas visit since assuming office in September. This move underscores Sri Lanka's foreign policy approach of maintaining a balance between major powers, avoiding alignment with any one side. This strategy allows Sri Lanka to safeguard its interests in the current international and regional context.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at Tsinghua University's National Strategy Institute, believes Dissanayake's decision to visit India first aimed to address New Delhi's concerns and continue seeking cooperation with India. During the visit, Dissanayake reiterated Sri Lanka's commitment to not allowing its territory to be used against India's security or regional stability.

However, some Indian media outlets view South Asian countries as India's exclusive sphere of influence and criticize China's legitimate cooperation with the region. This outdated perspective ignores the mutually beneficial nature of China's engagement with Sri Lanka.

In recent years, China-Sri Lanka cooperation has flourished, particularly with the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative. This collaboration has yielded tangible results and gained widespread recognition in Sri Lanka, leading to increased attention to the relationship with China.