Sri Lanka's new PM pledges to promote friendly cooperation with China

Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (R) meets with China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 13, 2022. Sri Lanka will continue promoting friendly cooperation with China, Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday. [Photo by Che Hongliang/Xinhua]

COLOMBO, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will continue promoting friendly cooperation with China, newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday.

During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, Wickremesinghe thanked China for extending assistance to Sri Lanka during the difficult times, saying that the new Sri Lankan government will promote the Belt and Road construction, and accelerate the development of the Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port and other major cooperation projects.

The prime minister said he looked forward to the resumption and promotion of cooperation between the two countries in various fields as soon as the new government is formed.

Congratulating Wickremesinghe on his reappointment as the prime minister, Ambassador Qi said China will step up cooperation with Sri Lanka, deliver emergency humanitarian aid to the country as soon as possible, and continue to provide more help for people's livelihood within its capacity.

The two sides also had a friendly exchange of views on the current economic and financial situation in Sri Lanka and other topics of common interest.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed leader of the United National Party Wickremesinghe as the prime minister on Thursday.