China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong said that he believes that Sri Lanka will overcome the prevailing economic crisis very soon and approach the path of development and that China will provide all support required for this purpose.
He said further that Buddhism was mainly responsible for building strong relations between the two countries and that China intends to further develop that friendship in the future. The Deputy Foreign Minister made these comments yesterday (1) when he visited the Malwatte Temple and received the blessings of the Chief Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Nayake thera and obtaining his blessings.
The Chinese Vice Minister also said that in the silk route which is being built on the concept of one pathway and one route, Sri Lanka belongs to a very important position on the land route. He said that whenever Sri Lanka faced economic difficulties China came to rescue of the country and the assistance of China will be given to Sri Lanka in the same manner in the future as well.
He said that 7 Chinese temples took the initiative and provided dry food items to 20,000 monks and 50,000 families with economic difficulties in Sri Lanka and such programs will be implemented in the future too.
Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter said that with the advent of the Bikkhu Fa-Hsien the ties between Sri Lanka and China strengthened and that the Bikkhuni Sasana was established in Sri Lanka with Chinese initiative as well.
The Chief Prelate said further that by providing us with the Port City Project, China has been of immense help to Sri Lanka and that the country expects the assistance of China in the future as well.