Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, as well as 12 other MPs who are members of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association are in China for a visit. Wang Mengjie caught up with delegation leader Namal Rajapaksa in Beijing to find out his country’s aspirations for fostering friendship with China.
WANG MENGJIE CGTN Reporter “What’s your expectation for current trip? As a rising star in political circles, how do you evaluate bilateral ties?”
NAMAL RAJAPAKSA Leader, Sri Lanka MP Delegation “We believe it is time to restart people-to-people relationships, strengthening not only the bilateral relationship between political parties and governments but also ensuring the message reaches the masses in both countries. Sri Lanka and China have been longstanding friends, and the benefits have been reciprocal. China has stood by Sri Lanka during difficult times, and similarly, Sri Lanka has always adhered to the One-China policy.”
WANG MENGJIE CGTN Reporter “Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to align its development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative. Ten years on, the foreign minister of Sri Lanka has now embarked on a journey to China. What positive outcomes do you expect from the visit?”
NAMAL RAJAPAKSA Leader, Sri Lanka MP Delegation “At present, our foreign minister is visiting Beijing, and hopefully that the Sri Lankan president will visit by the end of the year. This provides an opportunity for us to reconsider strengthening our cooperation through free trade agreements and various other strategic development projects that can bring mutual benefits to both countries.”
WANG MENGJIE CGTN Reporter “During his visit to Japan this May, Sri Lankan President said his country would apply to join the RCEP trade agreement. He said Asian countries are not only allied to the West, but also supporters of China’s BRI. That is a clear example of how more and more countries are refusing to take sides. How do you understand this trend?”
NAMAL RAJAPAKSA Leader, Sri Lanka MP Delegation “I think we should not focus on geographic divisions such as West, East, South, or any other continent. But, we should view things based on mutual interests between countries and global development partners. I don’t think it is correct to label a country, party, or government as aligned to the West or East. The priority should always be the well-being of our own people and meeting their needs.”
WANG MENGJIE CGTN Reporter “IMF data suggests debt from China makes up only 3.5 percent of Sri Lanka’s total debt, while the West and Japan account for the majority. What’s your take on China’s so-called debt trap diplomacy?”
NAMAL RAJAPAKSA Leader, Sri Lanka MP Delegation “It’s all about geopolitics. Unfortunately, for the last two decades, Sri Lanka has been a victim. Most of the infrastructure that they are talking about restructuring has been developed with Chinese funds. If it is a trap, who would come and invest? The reason is simple: it’s a credible and lucrative business venture. With the strategic location being utilized effectively, they are looking at restructuring and getting investments in.”
Source: news.cgtn.com
