During his official visit to China from April 6-9 2016, Ranil Wickremesinghe The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, reiterated his country’s commitment to participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, as first put forward by China, and expressed his hope that Sri Lanka would re-establish its position of classical times and would, once again, be one of the Indian Ocean’s key trading centres. The two sides agreed to promote mutually beneficial co-operation with regards to this development. Sri Lanka confirmed the interest it shared with China in expanding economic co-operation and building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as a road of friendship, co-operation and mutual exchanges. The two sides agreed to use the joint development of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as an opportunity to further advance infrastructure development, support China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Area negotiations, promote joint ventures and expand co-operation in the economic, cultural, scientific and technological sectors.

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