President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday (Dec. 02) on the sidelines of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, UAE. The primary focus of their discussions centered on fostering collaboration to facilitate Sri Lanka’s transition to a green economy, as reported by the President’s Media Division (PMD).
During the talks, President Wickremesinghe specifically urged President Macron to increase France’s involvement in the Indian Ocean region through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Additionally, the Sri Lankan leader highlighted the significance of the International Climate Change University in addressing global climate challenges. In a gesture of cooperation, President Wickremesinghe extended an invitation to France to actively participate and contribute to the initiatives undertaken by the university.
President Wickremesinghe also engaged in bilateral talks with leaders from several other countries during the COP28. His meeting with Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, focused on fostering close relations between the two nations, with an official invitation extended for PM Mitsotakis to visit Sri Lanka in the near future.
Furthermore, President Wickremesinghe met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Maldivian counterpart Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Friday. The discussions with President Muizzu explored avenues to strengthen the long and historic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, emphasizing mutual respect and shared values. Topics included people-to-people relations, tourism cooperation, and collaboration in the education sector. Both leaders also discussed their respective countries’ climate change policies and adaptation efforts.
In their closing remarks, Presidents Wickremesinghe and Muizzu expressed confidence in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities through collaborative efforts. The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) commenced on Friday at Expo City in Dubai, featuring the participation of heads of state and representatives from 54 countries. President Wickremesinghe conveyed these sentiments during his address at the conference.
