On October 16, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping met in Goa with President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka.

Xi Jinping pointed out that at present, China-Sri Lanka relations enjoy a positive and healthy development momentum. China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to inherit and carry forward the China-Sri Lanka friendship carefully cultivated by generations of people. Both sides should take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship coming next year as well as the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on Rice for Rubber to cement traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation so as to lift China-Sri Lanka relations to a new high.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Sri Lanka should maintain high-level contacts and political communication, and continue to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests. China appreciates that Sri Lanka supports and actively participates in the “Belt and Road” construction, and is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with Sri Lanka within the “Belt and Road” framework. Both sides should strengthen cooperation in trade, port operation, infrastructure construction, port-neighboring industrial parks, production capacity, livelihood and other fields and steadily push forward major projects including the Colombo Port City and the second phase of the Hambantota Port project. The two countries should jointly well host the activities celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship next year, encourage exchanges among all circles of society, including local governments, the Buddhist community, youth, think-tanks and media and expand cooperation in such fields as tourism, ocean, security, and disaster preparedness and mitigation. Both sides should reinforce coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks and continue to support each other on international and regional affairs.

Maithripala Sirisena said that the time-tested relations between the two countries enjoy a stronger momentum under the new situation. Sri Lanka thanks the Chinese government and people for offering assistance to its development as well as support in the international arena. Adhering to the One-China policy, Sri Lanka is willing to intensify coordination and communication with China in international and regional affairs. Sri Lanka stands ready to speed up the implementation of relevant economic and trade agreements as well as cooperation on major projects between both countries and welcomes Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Sri Lanka.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi, Zhou Xiaochuan and others were present at the meeting.