Chinese VP pledges closer ties with Sri Lanka

Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao (R) meets with Gamini Lakshman Peiris, presidential envoy and Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb 11, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao met with visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris in Beijing on Tuesday, calling on both countries to boost cooperation and cement their strategic cooperation partnership.

Hailing the stable growth of bilateral ties, Li said China-Sri Lanka relations had entered a new stage of development after the two heads of state announced an upgrade of relations to strategic cooperation partnership last year.

He said he hoped the two sides would facilitate pragmatic cooperation in accordance with the countries' national development strategies and offer stronger support and reliable friendship to each other.

Peiris, who is also special envoy of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said his government attaches great importance to its ties with China.

Sri Lanka hopes to boost high-level visits and all-round cooperation with China and push forward the bilateral partnership, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Peiris and expressed support for Sri Lanka's efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Wang told Peiris that China opposes other countries' interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka under the pretext of human rights issues.

Peiris's visit to China comes as the United States is mulling a third resolution on Sri Lanka's human rights record to be presented before the United Nations Human Rights Council in March.

Political analysts believe the visit could be aimed at drumming up support for the Sri Lankan government ahead of the Geneva sessions.