China-Sri Lanka Cooperation: News & Discussions
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艹艹艹
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buy LCA
Godman
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Due to dumb policies of Rajapaksa he built a port and then went to build a stadium, convention center and a airport in the middle of a jungle instead of developing port related infrastructure.
He copies a plan Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed in 2002 (Minus the stadium and the convention center) however by 2004 the plan was changed the airport was removed due to feasibility issues and the govt was advised to invest in Colombo Airport. But Rajapaksa ignored warnings and reports by govt agencies and built the airport instead of allowing the region to develop using the port.
Now Rajapaksa is using his sons "Nil Balakaya" goons to organize Anti-China protests in Hambantota
Rajapakse rides racism now as his human rights activist act no longer works.
Remember he has said he is even ready to go to hell to get a international HR investigation into SL.
I never opposed trade deals with India only said we need more info about ETCA
onebyone
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Sri Lanka clears the decks for controversial Chinese project
Stalled Port City project looks set to be back on track by around February
PUBLISHED : Friday, 11 December, 2015, 12:01am
UPDATED : Friday, 11 December, 2015, 12:43am
The Sri Lankan government has cleared the decks for the controversial Colombo Port City project to resume, the country’s finance minister told the South China Morning Post.
Executives at the related Chinese companies who cannot be identified separately told the Post that the project was expected to restart around February, after all the final details had been worked out.
“We have given all the necessary clearances. Now it is up to the investors to sort out the minor details,” said Ravi Karunanayake. “On our part, the government is happy with the environmental impact assessment [EIA] report for the project. It is now under public consultation.”
The absence of a proper EIA was cited as a major reason for pulling the US$1.4 billion project – which will see a spanking new business district the size of Monaco rise from the ocean – that was cleared by former China-friendly president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Colombo Port City is among the several big-ticket Chinese-backed infrastructure ventures put on hold after Rajapaksa lost in January’s election.
Inaugurated by President Xi Jinping in September and financed by state-controlled and Hong Kong-listed China Communications Construction Co (CCCC) and executed by its subsidiary CHEC Port City Colombo, the project has driven a wedge between Beijing and Colombo, once one among China’s strongest allies in the region.
Karunanayake said the government had asked the Chinese project company to agree to a change in provision of freehold land into leasehold land to enable the project to resume.
“This is in accordance with the law of the land. Foreigners can’t own land in this country and everyone has to abide by it,” the minister said.
Under the original agreement, CCCC would reclaim 233 hectares off Colombo coast. It would keep 108 hectares, including 20 hectares on a freehold basis and the rest on a 99-year lease. Sri Lanka would own the rights to the other 125 hectares.
Apart from potential environmental damage ranging from coastal erosion to loss of marine life, this provision of giving freehold land to a Chinese state company became a political hot potato at home and abroad.
MORE REPORT: Sri Lanka promises to end deadlock over mega Chinese project
In March, Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority warned in an internal memorandum to the government that the airspace over the Chinese-held area in the development would be controlled by China, drawing heavy criticism from Beijing.
“India is pressuring the government not to give us freehold land,” a senior Chinese executive, who refused to be identified, told the Post, adding that negotiations on the leasehold condition would begin in two weeks.
India has been concerned about increasing Chinese presence in its relatively less guarded southern flank since two Chinese submarine calls in Colombo last year. The incident is understood to have been the final straw in India’s relations with Rajapaksa, whose pronounced China tilt had already strained his ties with New Delhi.
The public consultation on the environment report will end around the middle of January. Several high-level sources have told the Post that Colombo has been trying to put the project back on track with a sense of urgency.
This is in accordance with the law of the land. Foreigners can’t own land in this country and everyone has to abide by it
SRI LANKAN FINANCE MINISTER RAVI KARUNANAYAKE
In October, China rushed Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin as special envoy to Sri Lanka to meet the leadership and urge them to restart Chinese projects, especially Port City.
“Sri Lankan leaders have expressed commitment to moving forward the project. I am confident Colombo Port City will be completed in three to five years,” he said at the end of his trip, expressing hope that the government’s decision to restart the project would ease the mounting losses for the Chinese companies as a result of the delay.
Since the unity government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe put the brakes on Port City, China has been treating the fate of this project as an indicator of the new regime’s commitment to continue strong bilateral ties.
Inaugurated by Xi in September last year, Colombo Port City was a major election issue in the campaign against Rajapaksa. Like many other big-ticket infrastructure projects across the country, it was alleged to have been cleared without due diligence and by subverting procedural norms to favour Chinese companies.
Moving away from Rajapaksa’s China focus, the new government has vowed to follow an equidistant foreign policy.
Wickremesinghe on Wednesday announced that Sri Lanka would not sign the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India. Instead, a new agreement on economic and technological cooperation with its northern neighbour was being worked out.
http://www.scmp.com/business/global-economy/article/1889625/colombo-clears-decks-port-city-project
Stalled Port City project looks set to be back on track by around February
PUBLISHED : Friday, 11 December, 2015, 12:01am
UPDATED : Friday, 11 December, 2015, 12:43am
The Sri Lankan government has cleared the decks for the controversial Colombo Port City project to resume, the country’s finance minister told the South China Morning Post.
Executives at the related Chinese companies who cannot be identified separately told the Post that the project was expected to restart around February, after all the final details had been worked out.
“We have given all the necessary clearances. Now it is up to the investors to sort out the minor details,” said Ravi Karunanayake. “On our part, the government is happy with the environmental impact assessment [EIA] report for the project. It is now under public consultation.”
The absence of a proper EIA was cited as a major reason for pulling the US$1.4 billion project – which will see a spanking new business district the size of Monaco rise from the ocean – that was cleared by former China-friendly president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Colombo Port City is among the several big-ticket Chinese-backed infrastructure ventures put on hold after Rajapaksa lost in January’s election.
Inaugurated by President Xi Jinping in September and financed by state-controlled and Hong Kong-listed China Communications Construction Co (CCCC) and executed by its subsidiary CHEC Port City Colombo, the project has driven a wedge between Beijing and Colombo, once one among China’s strongest allies in the region.
Karunanayake said the government had asked the Chinese project company to agree to a change in provision of freehold land into leasehold land to enable the project to resume.
“This is in accordance with the law of the land. Foreigners can’t own land in this country and everyone has to abide by it,” the minister said.
Under the original agreement, CCCC would reclaim 233 hectares off Colombo coast. It would keep 108 hectares, including 20 hectares on a freehold basis and the rest on a 99-year lease. Sri Lanka would own the rights to the other 125 hectares.
Apart from potential environmental damage ranging from coastal erosion to loss of marine life, this provision of giving freehold land to a Chinese state company became a political hot potato at home and abroad.
MORE REPORT: Sri Lanka promises to end deadlock over mega Chinese project
In March, Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority warned in an internal memorandum to the government that the airspace over the Chinese-held area in the development would be controlled by China, drawing heavy criticism from Beijing.
“India is pressuring the government not to give us freehold land,” a senior Chinese executive, who refused to be identified, told the Post, adding that negotiations on the leasehold condition would begin in two weeks.
India has been concerned about increasing Chinese presence in its relatively less guarded southern flank since two Chinese submarine calls in Colombo last year. The incident is understood to have been the final straw in India’s relations with Rajapaksa, whose pronounced China tilt had already strained his ties with New Delhi.
The public consultation on the environment report will end around the middle of January. Several high-level sources have told the Post that Colombo has been trying to put the project back on track with a sense of urgency.
This is in accordance with the law of the land. Foreigners can’t own land in this country and everyone has to abide by it
SRI LANKAN FINANCE MINISTER RAVI KARUNANAYAKE
In October, China rushed Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin as special envoy to Sri Lanka to meet the leadership and urge them to restart Chinese projects, especially Port City.
“Sri Lankan leaders have expressed commitment to moving forward the project. I am confident Colombo Port City will be completed in three to five years,” he said at the end of his trip, expressing hope that the government’s decision to restart the project would ease the mounting losses for the Chinese companies as a result of the delay.
Since the unity government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe put the brakes on Port City, China has been treating the fate of this project as an indicator of the new regime’s commitment to continue strong bilateral ties.
Inaugurated by Xi in September last year, Colombo Port City was a major election issue in the campaign against Rajapaksa. Like many other big-ticket infrastructure projects across the country, it was alleged to have been cleared without due diligence and by subverting procedural norms to favour Chinese companies.
Moving away from Rajapaksa’s China focus, the new government has vowed to follow an equidistant foreign policy.
Wickremesinghe on Wednesday announced that Sri Lanka would not sign the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India. Instead, a new agreement on economic and technological cooperation with its northern neighbour was being worked out.
http://www.scmp.com/business/global-economy/article/1889625/colombo-clears-decks-port-city-project
TaiShang
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China-Sri Lanka relations to take a new step in May
By Guan Weiwei , China.org.cn, February 5, 2017
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will visit China in May to discuss further economic cooperation, the Sri Lankan ambassador said on Feb. 4, a significant date for an announcement because it marks the island nation's 69th National Day celebration.
Flag hoisting ceremony at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Beijing on February 4, 2017. [Photo by Yang Jia/China.org.cn]
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and China and the 65th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact, an agreement that proved momentous for both countries.
The ambassador, Karunasena Kodituwakku, said Wickremesinghe will attend the Belt and Road Initiative Forum hosted in Beijing on May 14 and 15 in Beijing, and added that Sri Lanka will join China's Belt and Road Initiative and seek more investment and further cooperation.
"Like Singapore and Hong Kong, Colombo will be built into an international financial city in South Asia," said the ambassador, showing positive perspective on China's investment on Colombo Port projects.
A growing number of Sri Lankan study Mandarin and Chinese medicine in China, reflecting the increasing development and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Kodituwakka also predicts that by 2020, there will be more than 2 million Chinese tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
Flag hoisting ceremony at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Beijing on February 4, 2017. [Photo by Yang Jia/China.org.cn]
By Guan Weiwei , China.org.cn, February 5, 2017
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will visit China in May to discuss further economic cooperation, the Sri Lankan ambassador said on Feb. 4, a significant date for an announcement because it marks the island nation's 69th National Day celebration.
Flag hoisting ceremony at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Beijing on February 4, 2017. [Photo by Yang Jia/China.org.cn]
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and China and the 65th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact, an agreement that proved momentous for both countries.
The ambassador, Karunasena Kodituwakku, said Wickremesinghe will attend the Belt and Road Initiative Forum hosted in Beijing on May 14 and 15 in Beijing, and added that Sri Lanka will join China's Belt and Road Initiative and seek more investment and further cooperation.
"Like Singapore and Hong Kong, Colombo will be built into an international financial city in South Asia," said the ambassador, showing positive perspective on China's investment on Colombo Port projects.
A growing number of Sri Lankan study Mandarin and Chinese medicine in China, reflecting the increasing development and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Kodituwakka also predicts that by 2020, there will be more than 2 million Chinese tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
Flag hoisting ceremony at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Beijing on February 4, 2017. [Photo by Yang Jia/China.org.cn]
Godman
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Chinese Communist Party pledges support to make Sri Lanka the economic hub of the Indian Ocean
Thu, Feb 23, 2017, 10:50 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 23, Colombo: A high ranking official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) today pledged China's full support to Sri Lanka's efforts to make the island nation a hub of the Indian Ocean.
The head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Song Tao, who is leading a delegation to the country, gave this assurance when the delegation met with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees today.
During the meeting, the CPC leader recalled that it was the United National Party, the first political party of Sri Lanka, initiated relations with China by establishing trade ties with China soon after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
The visiting Chinese Minister further assured the Prime Minister that his country would extend maximum support for the forward march of Sri Lanka, based on the long standing ties between the Chinese Communist Party and the United National Party.
Mr. Song pointed out that despite the changes that have taken place in the political map locally as well as internationally, Sri Lanka had continuously maintained friendly ties with China.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe expressing his gratitude to China for the friendly relations with Sri Lanka, said it is an opportune time for the two countries to look into the role that could be played in the Reawakening Asia based on the two nation's experiences.
Emphasizing that Sri Lanka always adhered to the non-aligned policy, the Premier said the policy of the present government is to maintain relations with every country without being a threat or causing hindrance.
Premier Wickremesinghe expressed his appreciation to the support given by China for the construction of the Hambantota Industrial Zone and the Colombo Financial City.
Chinese Minister Song Tao invited the Sri Lankan Prime Minister to attend the "One way - One Strip" Conference to be held in China in May
China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang, Prime Minister's Secretary Saman Ekanayake and Prime Minister's Additional Secretary Saman Athaudahetti were among those present at the meeting.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/Feb23_1487870442CH.php
Thu, Feb 23, 2017, 10:50 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
The head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Song Tao, who is leading a delegation to the country, gave this assurance when the delegation met with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees today.
During the meeting, the CPC leader recalled that it was the United National Party, the first political party of Sri Lanka, initiated relations with China by establishing trade ties with China soon after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
The visiting Chinese Minister further assured the Prime Minister that his country would extend maximum support for the forward march of Sri Lanka, based on the long standing ties between the Chinese Communist Party and the United National Party.
Mr. Song pointed out that despite the changes that have taken place in the political map locally as well as internationally, Sri Lanka had continuously maintained friendly ties with China.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe expressing his gratitude to China for the friendly relations with Sri Lanka, said it is an opportune time for the two countries to look into the role that could be played in the Reawakening Asia based on the two nation's experiences.
Emphasizing that Sri Lanka always adhered to the non-aligned policy, the Premier said the policy of the present government is to maintain relations with every country without being a threat or causing hindrance.
Premier Wickremesinghe expressed his appreciation to the support given by China for the construction of the Hambantota Industrial Zone and the Colombo Financial City.
Chinese Minister Song Tao invited the Sri Lankan Prime Minister to attend the "One way - One Strip" Conference to be held in China in May
China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang, Prime Minister's Secretary Saman Ekanayake and Prime Minister's Additional Secretary Saman Athaudahetti were among those present at the meeting.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/Feb23_1487870442CH.php
Godman
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@Gibbs It seems the Chinese delegation mistook the first government to the first party.
UNP is not the first party in SL but the first party to come to power in independant Sri Lanka. He forgot the Rubber Rice pact which was the first Trade agreement China signed with a Non-Communist country with the then UNP govt
UNP is not the first party in SL but the first party to come to power in independant Sri Lanka. He forgot the Rubber Rice pact which was the first Trade agreement China signed with a Non-Communist country with the then UNP govt
ahojunk
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The title of the article should be "China" instead of "CCP".
After all Song Tao is a minister of China.
Regardless of the title, it's good news for Sri Lanka.
Hope to see lots of progress in Sri Lanka, especially Hambantota Port area.
After all Song Tao is a minister of China.
Regardless of the title, it's good news for Sri Lanka.
Hope to see lots of progress in Sri Lanka, especially Hambantota Port area.
艹艹艹
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Indian old trick
Mo12
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艹艹艹
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Mo12
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Yep the airport is actually busy, its all an illusion, open your eyes and see the real news
westerner's old trick
艹艹艹
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Indian old trickYep the airport is actually busy, its all an illusion, open your eyes and see the real news
