Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) is set to visit China next month, marking his second scheduled foreign visit after his recent trip to New Delhi.
During a press briefing in Beijing, AFP inquired about the planned visit, to which Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responded by reaffirming the strength of Sino-Sri Lankan relations.
“China and Sri Lanka are strategic cooperative partners who help each other with sincerity and enjoy ever-lasting friendship,” Mao Ning said. “The two countries have close high-level interactions. China stands ready to maintain the momentum of high-level interactions with Sri Lanka, carry forward traditional friendship, and expand exchange and cooperation in various fields to deliver more tangibly for the two peoples.”
When asked about specifics of the visit, she added, “On the specific visit you mentioned, we will release information in due course.”
This trip to Beijing highlights the continued importance of China as a key ally to Sri Lanka. As the island nation grapples with economic challenges, China has been a central player in its debt restructuring talks and infrastructure development.
The timing of this visit, following closely on the heels of Dissanayake’s outreach to India, signals his administration’s effort to engage both regional powers.
Whilst in New Delhi last week, Dissanayake reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to ensuring its territory is not used against India’s security interests, a critical assurance given regional concerns over China’s expanding influence on the island. “I assured the Indian leader that Sri Lanka will not permit its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability,” he said in his address.
