China to assist Sri Lanka to satisfy essential wants of individuals: PM Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday stated he had a “very productive” dialog along with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and thanked him for assuring help to his authorities to handle a number of the essential wants affecting peoples’ livelihoods and well-being, amidst the worst financial disaster within the island nation.

The phone dialog between Rajapaksa and Li, which passed off on the Sri Lankan prime minister’s request, comes because the Sri Lanka is grappling with its worst financial disaster since independence from Britain in 1948.

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets throughout the nation as the federal government ran out of cash for important imports which has seen the costs of important commodities skyrocket and led to acute shortages of gasoline, medicines and electrical energy.

“Had a very productive conversation with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. I reiterated #SriLanka’s gratitude to #China for the longstanding friendship and for assuring support to address some of the crucial needs affecting peoples’ livelihoods and well-being in these difficult times,” Rajapaksa tweeted.

In Beijing, the official Xinhua information company reported that Li informed Rajapaksa that China empathises with Sri Lanka for the difficulties and challenges dealing with the South Asian nation.

Li stated that China is “ready to provide much-needed livelihood assistance for Sri Lanka within its capacity.” China is able to play a constructive function in Sri Lanka’s steady socio-economic growth primarily based on the precept of non-interference in its inner affairs and on the premise of respecting Sri Lanka’s will, the report quoted Li as saying.

China helps steady progress in bilateral sensible cooperation tasks, and hopes for an early begin of the negotiation and signing of their free commerce settlement, in order to boost mutually useful cooperation, Li added.

The Chinese premier famous that the 2 nations get pleasure from profound conventional friendship and are strategic cooperative companions.

“China is ready to consolidate political mutual trust with Sri Lanka, strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance among developing countries, deepen practical cooperation in various fields and push for sound and stable development of bilateral relations,” added stated.

The dialog between the 2 prime ministers got here a day after the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo Qi Zhenhong met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof. G L Peiris and mentioned the present social & financial state of affairs within the island nation.

The Chinese embassy tweeted that the envoy additionally mentioned China’s support/help to the Sri Lankan folks and bilateral and worldwide cooperation between the 2 nations.

Earlier, Qi additionally met the Leader of the Opposition & Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) chief Sajith Premadasa and guaranteed him that China is doing all-out efforts to assist Sri Lanka overcome the disaster.

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry introduced this week that it’s going to quickly ship emergency humanitarian help to Sri Lanka.

So far, Beijing remained silent on Chinese Ambassador Qi’s announcement that China is contemplating a USD 2.5 billion credit score facility to Sri Lanka.

Also China has to date parried questions on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s request made to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi throughout his go to in December final 12 months to restructure Colombo’s debt repayments to bailout his authorities.

It is estimated that Sri Lanka owes debt funds to China to the tune of about USD 1.5 to 2 billion this 12 months. Over all China’s loans and investments in Sri Lanka was estimated to be greater than USD eight billion in the previous few years for tasks together with roads, an airport and ports.

But critics say the cash was used for pointless schemes with low returns.

Anti-government protesters in Sri Lanka are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as they blame his insurance policies for the disaster, however he and his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa have refused to give up. However, they’ve provided to amend the Constitution to clip the President’s powers and empower Parliament.