China and Sri Lanka Hold Advanced Seminar on Governance Experience
 ( 2020.11.04 )

On November 4th, the CPC and the People's Front of Sri Lanka held an opening ceremony for the advanced seminar on governance experience themed on “strengthening exchanges between the ruling parties of the two countries and mutual learning and governance experience” via videolink. Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC); Liu Cigui, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee; Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka; G. L. Peiris, Chairman of the People's Front and Education Minister; Namal Rajapaksa, leader of the People's Front Youth and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, and others attended and addressed the function. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa specially sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony.

Speaking highly of the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries, Song said that General Secretary Xi Jinping had a phone call with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in May of this year,and they reached important consensus on advancing China-Sri Lanka relations and cooperation in various fields under the new situation, thus charting the course for the in-depth exchanges of experience in party governance and state administration. The CPC is willing to actively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state with the People's Front, strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, and conduct mutual learning, so as to enhance the party’s capability in governance and help China and Sri Lanka jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, better benefit the two peoples and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

Song mainly briefed on the spirit of the fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and said that the fifth Plenary Session, held at the historical intersection to achieve China’s two centenary goals, was an important meeting with milestone significance. The most important outcome of the session was the review and approval of the CPCCC's proposals for the formulation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. The proposals clarified the guiding principles, main goals, key tasks, and major measures of China’s social and economic development during the period of the 14th Five-Year Plan, fully demonstrating the vision and historical responsibility of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and opening a new journey for China to comprehensively build a modern socialist country. It has drew a blueprint for marching towards the second centenary goal and also injected vigorous momentum into the deepening of cooperation with neighboring countries including Sri Lanka and other countries in the world.

Liu said that the advanced seminar is a pragmatic action to implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, and is of great significance to consolidate the strategic partnership between the two countries. Liu gave a comprehensive introduction to Hainan’s economic and social development achievements, expressing that Hainan is willing to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka in the fields of tropical agriculture, economy and trade, people-to-people engagement, education, and tourism through inter-party channels, and work with Sri Lanka to make new contributions to the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

General Secretary of the People's Front Sagara Kariyawasam read out Prime Minister Mahinda’s congratulatory message. In his message, Mahinda reviewed the traditional friendship between Sri Lanka and China, saying that Sri Lanka eagerly hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields and deepen the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. The leaders of Sri Lanka present at the seminar warmly congratulated on the successful convening of the fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, highly appreciated China's tremendous development achievements under the leadership of the CPC, and thanked China for providing selfless support and assistance for Sri Lanka's fight against the COVID-19 and its economic and social development. The Sri Lankan side attaches great importance to the development of friendly relations between Sri Lanka and China and believes that the close exchanges between the two ruling parties will help strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance and consolidate political mutual trust. Sri Lanka is willing to further deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as locality, people-to-people, and infrastructure to jointly promote the development of the Belt and Road cooperation between Sri Lanka and China.

GuoYezhou, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, presided over the seminar. Sun Dahai, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Secretary General of CPC Hainan Provincial Committee; Qi Zhenhong, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka; and more than fifty senior leaders of the People's Front, cabinet ministers, and state ministers including Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation of Sri Lanka; and General Secretary of the People's Front Sagara Kariyawasam were present.

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