by Yang Meiju, Zhang Li
COLOMBO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Sri Lanka would be a milestone for the bilateral ties, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wu Jianghao has said.
The ambassador told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that Xi's visit would be the first of Chinese president and it will set up a guideline and a blueprint for the future of the bilateral ties.
Wu said the two sides upgraded their ties to strategic cooperation partnership in May last year during Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's tour in China.
He said the two nations have a history of friendly relations and in recent years, the two have seen massive cooperation projects.
The two countries have built high mutual trust in the world political arena, firmly backing each other on issues of core interests, said the ambassador.
He said since Sri lanka ended the 3-decade long conflict in 2009, Chinese enterprises have been storming into the island nation and statistics in sectors of trade, investment, infrastructure and tourism have seen a blossoming surge.
President Xi's visit is expected to further enhance the Sino- Sri Lankan relations, said the Chinese ambassador.
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dialogue between the two countries is expected to start during Xi's visit.
The Chinese ambassador said the FTA is predicted to bring about overall positive impact, further enhancing investment and people to people exchange.
Wu said China has worked out a framework of 21st Maritime Silk Route, which harmonizes with Sri Lanka's development.
The island nation was the first country to express its support to the Silk Route initiative.
The two sides are panning out schemes under the framework for substantial outcomes, said the ambassador.
From: Xinhua / English.news.cn http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-09/13/c_133640536.htm
