Participants at Friday’s high level seminar jointly organized by the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) an the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) recognized that the Maritime Silk Route can strengthen the conditions for taking greater advantage of the China – Sri Lanka Strategic Partnership by yielding considerable benefits for Sri Lanka’s development prospects.
It was noted that Sri Lanka’s geographic location being equidistant from East Asia, the Middle East and Africa is particularly significant in this respect. The seminar focused on cooperation between Sri Lanka and China to advance the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative.
The joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the seminar recognized that the underlying rationale for MSR initiative is to generate inclusive development through win-win cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and promote friendship among the regional countries so as to make contributions to the peace, stability and prosperity in Asia. The implementation of MSR initiative should be based on the principles of mutual respect and sovereign equality among regional countries, it said.
There was consensus that considerable potential exists to improve transport connectivity as a major objective of the MSR in order to improve economic integration within the Asian region for the benefit of its people.
There was also agreement that the MSR provides a robust framework for promoting trade and investment among countries of the region as a means of fulfilling the potential of Asian countries in the 21st Century.
It was acknowledged that the MSR created a conducive environment for taking advantage of historical, cultural and social ties among regional countries to promote people-to-people contacts, including tourism.
It was highlighted that the MSR concept is complementary with Sri Lanka’s "Mahinda Chintana", which focuses, inter alia, on the maritime and commercial hubs.
It was recognized that there is considerable scope to take advantage of the connectivity facilitated by the MSR to maximize the trade and investment opportunities, which will be created by the Free Trade Agreement being negotiated between the two countries.
It was agreed that considerable potential exists for cooperation in the areas of maritime connectivity, fisheries, marine research, marine environmental protection and disaster management.
The two sides agreed to take follow-up action to explore ways and means of translating the MSR initiative to practical outcomes in trade liberalization and facilitation, infrastructure development and industrial parks. It is also proposed to conduct studies on selected sectors of mutual interest, mount missions committed to trade expansion and investment promotion as well as science and technology exchanges.
It was also agreed that the Pathfinder Foundation and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) would work closely with each other to follow up on the outcomes contained in the Press Release.
The high-level Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Zeng Peiyan, former Vice Premier of the State Council of China and the Vice Chairman of the BFA Board, accompanied by Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary General of the BFA, and Mr. Zhang Xiaoqiang, CEO of CCIEE.
Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development was the Chief Guest at the Panel Discussion on 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Mr. G L Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, Mr. LakshamanYapa Abeywardena, Minister of Investment Promotion, Mr. Faiszer Mustapha, Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion and Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Founder, Pathfinder Foundation and Senior Advisor to the President also participated in the deliberations.
It was recognized that the bilateral arrangements and agreements between Sri Lanka and China have laid good ground for implementation of MSR. Both sides expressed the wish that the joint efforts by the two countries could set a good bilateral example for advancing MSR process.
While in Colombo, Mr. Zeng Peiyan called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.
