During a recent meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the necessity for a ‘fair and transparent’ environment for Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka. Reports indicate that President Xi expressed concerns about external influences affecting decision-making processes in friendly nations.
Although the meeting was described as friendly and cordial by a top source, President Xi refrained from explicitly referencing any specific third country in his remarks.
Prime Minister Gunawardena recently visited China from March 25 to 30 to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2024, where he engaged in bilateral discussions.
In a separate meeting, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang raised concerns regarding Sri Lanka’s announcement of a moratorium on foreign research vessels in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), particularly targeting Chinese ships while accommodating a similar vessel from Germany in between.
In response, Mr. Gunawardena reportedly clarified that Sri Lanka permitted the German vessel solely for replenishment purposes, citing compliance with the law. He affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to not allowing its territory to be utilized against the interests of any nation.
