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Sri Lanka's new president upbeat about enhanced ties with China

Xinhua, January 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka's newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena is upbeat about strengthened relations with China, which have reached a new height since the end of a three-decade civil war, the Chinese Embassy said on Friday.

When meeting with Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao on Thursday, Sirisena thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory message on his assumption of office and recalled Xi's "very successful" visit to the country last September.

"The new government, together with China, will implement the outcomes of this state visit on the existing basis, strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and push forward the development of Sri Lanka-China relations," the Sri Lankan president said.

Ambassador Wu congratulated Sirisena on his election and spoke highly of the important contributions he has made to bilateral ties over the years.

"Sri Lanka and China, as traditional friendly neighbors, are proved as sincere partners. China has always attached great importance to bilateral ties and will continue to promote the development of China-Sri Lanka's strategic partnership of cooperation," Wu said at the meeting.

Relations between the two countries reached a historic high under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sirisena was sworn in as the new president on Jan. 9 after beating Rajapaksa in a presidential election. Endi