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Chinese FM starts official visit in Sri Lanka

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-10 09:52

COLOMBO -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi arrived in Sri Lanka Tuesday evening for a two-day official visit to the South Asian island, officials from China's embassy in Sri Lanka said.

Yang is making his visit at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama.

Officials from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Chinese foreign minister will hold bilateral official talks with Bogollagama Wednesday morning.

He is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake during his stay in Sri Lanka.  

This will be Yang's first visit to Sri Lanka since taking office in April 2007, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said last Tuesday in Beijing.

Jiang said China and Sri Lanka were traditional and friendly neighbors. Bilateral ties had continually progressed since the forging of diplomatic ties, featuring with the frequent high-level visits.

China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to continue pushing forward the neighborly cooperation, in a bid to further promote the bilateral comprehensive and cooperative partnership, Jiang said.

The Chinese foreign minister arrived in Colombo after visiting India from September 7 to 9.