Sri Lankan PM meets new Chinese ambassador

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with China's new ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang, said a press release from the Chinese embassy here on Friday.

Yi conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to Wickremesinghe from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Wickremesinghe expressed appreciation for close relations between the two countries and asked Yi to return his greetings.

Yi commended the efforts made by Wickremesinghe for the development of China-Sri Lanka relations.

He said the two countries have profound traditional friendship, the Chinese side is committed to promoting the development of relations, and is willing to further strengthen the cooperation in various fields to benefit the two peoples.

"We believe that under the leadership of the new government, Sri Lanka will have more achievements in various fields," Yi said.

Wickremesinghe welcomed Yi's assumption of office.

He said Sri Lanka's new government attaches great importance to its relationship with China, and is willing to enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation in political, economic, investment and security areas.

The Sri Lankan government will facilitate the Chinese ambassador's work in Sri Lanka, said the prime minister.

Yi had frank exchange of views on China-Sri Lanka economic and trade cooperation, especially the cooperation on major projects with Wickremesinghe. Endi