Xi: Bolster ties with BRI partners

President meets in Beijing with leaders from four countries

President Xi Jinping underlined on Friday China's commitment to bolstering Belt and Road cooperation while meeting respectively with leaders from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos and Brazil at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Sri Lanka

China is ready to see Sri Lanka become a commercial center of the Indian Ocean, Xi said when meeting with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The two sides should make every effort to push forward the comprehensive development projects of Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port, making them flagship projects of China-Sri Lanka Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

The Sri Lankan president traveled to China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to welcome and join the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi said Beijing attaches great importance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations, and is willing to work with the South Asian country to consolidate political mutual trust and embark on high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.

China is willing to import more quality and specialty products from Sri Lanka, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka, and help Sri Lanka realize economic transformation and upgrading as well as sustainable development, he said.

Sri Lanka is expected to provide an open and transparent business environment for Chinese enterprises, Xi added.

Speaking on offering aid to the South Asian country, Xi said China will continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka without any political strings attached and help the country cope with difficulties concerning its society and people's livelihoods.

Xi emphasized that China firmly supports Sri Lanka's adherence to strategic autonomy and its safeguarding of state sovereignty, independence and national dignity.

Wickremesinghe said the BRI is conducive to enhancing Sri Lanka's unique influence in the region, and Sri Lanka hopes to work more closely with China in the future. Sri Lanka believes that the Indian Ocean should embrace openness, he added.

China can be an important partner in Sri Lanka's modernization, and Sri Lanka welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka and is willing to provide an enabling business environment, he said.