Carrying Forward the Traditional Friendship,
Dear Friends from all walks of life in Sri Lanka,
Dear Chinese compatriots in Sri Lanka,
It is a great honor and privilege to be appointed
by President Xi Jinping as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
People’s Republic of China to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
the “pearl of the Indian Ocean.” This promising land, with its time-honored and
splendid civilization, its magnificent and enchanting scenery, and its
kind-hearted and hospitable people, fills me with warmth and inspires in me a
deep sense of longing and admiration.
China and Sri Lanka enjoy a traditional friendship
that has a long history and continues to grow stronger over time. Two thousand
years ago, the ancient “Silk Road” witnessed ships sailing to and fro, weaving
a splendid chapter of friendly exchanges between our two countries. Over
seventy years ago, the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact stood as a testament to
our mutual support and solidarity in times of adversity. Since the
establishment of diplomatic ties, our two countries have always stood together
through thick and thin and forged ahead hand in hand. We have steadfastly
cultivated and deepened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and
across various fields, yielding fruitful results that have benefited millions
of people in both China and Sri Lanka. Looking back through the long course of
history—from the solitary sail of Master Faxian, who traveled westward to seek Buddhist
scriptures, to Admiral Zheng He’s mighty fleet cleaving through the waves; from
the Prince of Ceylon settling in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, and making a
foreign land his home, to the sincere affection of the Sri Lankan people in
gifting three baby elephants to Chinese children; and from the China-Sri Lanka
Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology(JRDC) safeguarding
the source of life, to the school uniform fabrics benefiting millions of students
across the island—the China-Sri Lanka friendship, spanning mountains and seas
and enduring through the passage of time, has always shone with the warmest and
most heartening light. On this occasion, I would like to express my sincere
gratitude and heartfelt respect to all those from various sectors in both
countries who have cared for and supported China-Sri Lanka friendship.
The prospects of China-Sri Lanka friendship are
broad and promising. In 2025, President Xi Jinping met with President
Dissanayake and Prime Minister Amarasuriya respectively during their visits to
China, reaching important consensus and fruitful outcomes of cooperation. These
high-level exchanges have provided new strategic guidance for the growth of our
bilateral relations. China-Sri Lanka relations are now facing a historic
opportunity to both build on past success and forge ahead into the future.
China always takes Sri Lanka as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. Our
two countries are fellow travelers on the path toward development and
revitalization, and good partners of win-win cooperation. We are also good brothers and good friends that share weal and woe. At
present, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its
core, are engaged in the endeavors to build a great country and advance
national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. Sri Lanka is
also focusing on economic development and improving people’s livelihoods,
striving to achieve the vision of “a thriving nation, a beautiful life”. China
is ready to walk side by side with Sri Lanka, strengthen the synergy of
development strategies, and open up broad prospects for mutual success and
shared prosperity, so as to continue to deepen our strategic cooperative
partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and everlasting friendship, and
work together to build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future.
Next year, China and Sri Lanka will celebrate the
70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 75th
anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. At this important juncture,
I have been entrusted by my motherland and its people to serve as the
Ambassador to Sri Lanka. I am deeply aware of the glorious mission and significant
responsibility this entails. In the years ahead, my colleagues and I will
dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to our duties and forge ahead with
determination. We will do our utmost to carry forward our traditional
friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and safeguard the
legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and citizens. In this
endeavor, my work cannot be accomplished without the support and assistance of
friends from all sectors in both China and Sri Lanka. I look forward to more
frequent contact, closer communication, and deeper friendship with all of you,
and I welcome your views and suggestions. Let us join hands and make
unremitting efforts to usher in a brighter future for China-Sri Lanka
relations.
Thank you all!
H.E. Wei Huaxiang- Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka