Colombo (Agencies) – China and Sri Lanka have signed key agreements to deepen economic and trade cooperation, further advancing collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The agreements were finalized during the 8th meeting of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Trade and Economic Commission, held on Thursday in Colombo.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Sri Lankan Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe co-chaired the meeting, where both sides pledged to expand trade, investment, and industrial cooperation while ensuring multilateral trade stability. The session resulted in two memorandums of understanding (MoUs)—one establishing a trade facilitation working group and another focusing on industrial and supply chain collaboration.
Wang highlighted the steady growth of bilateral trade, emphasizing China’s commitment to boosting Sri Lanka’s exports, fostering sustainable trade, and improving green development and digital economy initiatives. He reaffirmed China’s opposition to unilateralism and protectionism, stressing the importance of a strong multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Samarasinghe reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to BRI cooperation, encouraging Chinese investment in agricultural processing and renewable energy sectors. He also emphasized the need for closer China-Sri Lanka coordination on global trade platforms.
In a separate meeting, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised China’s economic, technological, and infrastructural advancements, expressing eagerness to expand Chinese investment in Sri Lanka. Wang assured continued efforts to enhance bilateral trade, industrial linkages, and livelihood development initiatives.
Business leaders also voiced optimism, with Huang Fen, Vice President of Tongfa Group, highlighting Sri Lanka’s investment-friendly policies and discussing potential plans to establish a sugar processing factory in Sri Lanka.
The meeting reinforced Sri Lanka’s longstanding friendship with China, signaling expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.