China-Sri Lanka trade ties firm despite tensions over Colombo Port City
View(s):Amidst underlying tensions between Sri Lanka and China over the Colombo Port City project, separate efforts are continuing to strengthen trade and development ties between the two countries, particularly on trade and commerce.
This week an event in this connection was the China-Sri Lanka Enterprise Business Matching where a large number of Sri Lankan businesses comprising all sectors, met a large contingent of delegates from Tianjin Province, China – the richest province in China.
The matchmaker was the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and at the signing of the MOU between the two parties, S.P.S. Ranatunga, Vice Chairman, CCC said that this province could be considered as the power house of the world, with a doubling of the province’s growth rate. He said the Sri Lankan business community was connecting with the most dynamic and fastest moving opportunities available in this region in China.
He said the CCC is well poised to sponsor this event as they are the largest and the oldest chamber in the country with a history of over 175 years and noted that they would handle the follow-up action that comes with this matching process in the future. He indicated that the Sri Lankan business community is very interested in doing business with this lucrative province.
Li Sheng Li, Executive Director, Tianjin Commission of Commerce (TCC), said that the Chinese Prime Minister and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister met in Beijing, earlier and both sides agreed to strengthen the cooperation that could be beneficial to both countries and now they are looking forward to renew the foundation of that cooperation.
To strengthen the cooperation, he said they would be involving in key areas of construction, energy and commerce and would enhance the communication.
Tony Goonewardena, Executive Director, Aitken Spence Plantations told the Business Times that doing business in China is very easy and not complicated.
He said that his company has been having good business relations with China for many years, exporting value added Ceylon Tea. (QP)