Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka:
1. At the invitation of Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka paid a state visit to China from January 14 to 17, 2025.
2. During the visit, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Dissanayake. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council, and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met with President Dissanayake. The two sides exchanged in-depth views in a cordial and friendly atmosphere on deepening traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka, advancing the joint construction of the Belt and Road, practical cooperation in various fields, and common concerns on international and regional issues, reaching broad consensus.
3. Both sides agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 68 years ago, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other equally, and supported each other, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes. Both sides are willing to continue to promote the spirit of the "Rice-Rubber Pact" featuring independence, self-reliance, unity, and mutual assistance, adhere to mutual respect and trust, mutual support, cooperation for mutual benefit, and common development, and are committed to deepening the sincere mutual assistance and generational friendship of the strategic cooperative partnership between China and Sri Lanka, jointly building a China-Sri Lanka community of shared destiny, and bringing greater well-being to the peoples of both countries.
4. Both sides are willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, play the strategic guiding role of the leaders of the two countries in the development of bilateral relations, further strengthen exchanges between the governments, legislative bodies, and political parties of the two countries, consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges and mutual learning in state governance and development experience, and continuously promote the development of China-Sri Lanka relations.
5. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual support on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. Both sides reaffirmed the authority of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. Sri Lanka reaffirmed its firm adherence to the One-China principle, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. Sri Lanka firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence."
Sri Lanka reaffirmed that it will never allow its territory to be used for any anti-China separatist activities and will firmly support China on issues concerning Tibet and Xinjiang. China reaffirmed its firm support for Sri Lanka in maintaining national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, respecting and supporting Sri Lanka's autonomous choice of development path suitable for its national conditions. China reaffirmed its independent foreign policy of peace. Sri Lanka reaffirmed its independent, non-aligned foreign policy.
6. China congratulated Sri Lanka on the successful holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024, wishing the new government of Sri Lanka to lead its people to achieve national economic, social development, and stable and prosperous unity. China will actively support the Sri Lankan government's governance to achieve sustainable national development.
Sri Lanka highly appreciates the great achievements of China in the new era, supports China's comprehensive advancement of national construction and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. Sri Lanka believes that China's further comprehensive deepening of reforms and expanding high-level opening up will bring new opportunities for Sri Lanka's economic development.
7. Under the joint leadership and promotion of the leaders of the two countries, the cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Sri Lanka has achieved fruitful results. Sri Lanka appreciates the important role of the cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative in promoting economic and social development and improving people's livelihood in Sri Lanka.
Both sides are willing to follow the guiding principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits, openness, green development, integrity, high standards, and sustainability, guided by the eight actions for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping, to coordinate the advancement of major landmark projects such as the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Comprehensive Development Project, and are also willing to carry out more livelihood projects in Sri Lanka through platforms such as the "Silk Road Workshop." Both sides are willing to take the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan as an opportunity to promote the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Sri Lanka to a higher level, jointly exploring new spaces for higher-level, more resilient, and sustainable win-win development.
8. Sri Lanka highly appreciates China's valuable support in its financial relief, including critical assistance in debt restructuring involving China, providing strong support for Sri Lanka to effectively address debt issues. Sri Lanka is willing to implement the debt resolution scheme reached with Chinese financial institutions as soon as possible.
China will continue to play a positive role in the International Monetary Fund, maintain friendly communication with other creditors, help Sri Lanka in financial relief, and achieve sustainable debt. The People's Bank of China and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have renewed the currency swap agreement and will continue to carry out financial cooperation.
9. Both sides are satisfied with the achievements of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Sri Lanka thanks China for adopting various measures to promote imports from Sri Lanka. China is willing to continue to support Sri Lankan industries such as tea and gems to establish contacts with relevant Chinese import and export associations, facilitate Sri Lanka's participation in the China International Import Expo, China Import and Export Fair, China-South Asia Expo, and the use of e-commerce platforms, and further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between enterprises of the two countries. Both sides will continue to adhere to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, striving to reach a comprehensive China-Sri Lanka free trade agreement as soon as possible in a package manner.
Sri Lanka welcomes more Chinese-funded enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka and will create a favorable investment and business environment for them. China will continue to encourage Chinese-funded enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka, helping Sri Lanka achieve economic transformation and sustainable development. Both sides unanimously agree to expand cooperation between the two countries in fields such as logistics, green development, and the digital economy, continuously providing strong momentum for high-level mutually beneficial practical cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.
10. Both sides positively evaluate the extensive cooperation and in-depth exchanges carried out in the agricultural field between the two countries. China is willing to carry out training and demonstration cooperation with Sri Lanka in fields such as biotechnology of tropical crops, breeding cultivation, and aquaculture, helping Sri Lanka improve its sustainable agricultural development capabilities.
China welcomes Sri Lanka to further expand the export of Sri Lankan characteristic products such as tea, fruits, cinnamon, and aquatic products to China. Both sides are willing to further focus on poverty reduction development, rural revitalization, and other areas to expand exchanges and cooperation. China is willing to help Sri Lanka strengthen capacity building in related fields.
11. Both sides unanimously believe that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing human society in this era, posing challenges to the sustainable development of a large number of developing countries including China and Sri Lanka. Both sides agree to actively cooperate in the field of climate change response.
Sri Lanka thanks China for providing humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka in response to continuous heavy rain disasters. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka in disaster prevention and mitigation, emergency rescue, and other fields, share its advanced technology and provide personnel training, and improve Sri Lanka's emergency management capabilities. China welcomes Sri Lanka to participate in related activities of platforms such as the Belt and Road Green Development International Alliance, jointly achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
12. Both sides are willing to continue maritime cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual trust, mutual benefit, and hold regular bilateral consultations on maritime affairs. Both sides are willing to deepen cooperation in fields such as marine environment and ecosystem protection and restoration, maritime situational awareness, maritime search and rescue, maritime personnel training, and capacity building, striving to build a maritime community of shared future. Both sides agree to sign a memorandum of understanding on advancing the blue partnership and maritime cooperation.
13. Both sides are willing to deepen educational cooperation. Both sides fully recognize the important role of educational exchanges in enhancing understanding and friendship between the two countries and are willing to further strengthen exchanges of teachers, students, and scholars. China welcomes and encourages more outstanding Sri Lankan students to study in China, is willing to continue to provide support through government scholarships for this purpose, and jointly build the "Luban Workshop" well with Sri Lanka to train more vocational and technical talents for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka thanks China for its help in improving Sri Lanka's education level and is willing to jointly implement the digital classroom construction project with China.
Both sides are willing to promote Chinese language teaching in Sri Lanka, continue to play the role of the Sri Lanka China Cultural Center in promoting cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. Both sides will continue to build and operate the "China-Sri Lanka Joint Science and Education Center" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, strengthening scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation and talent cultivation between universities and research institutions of the two countries.
14. Both sides are willing to continue the generational friendship between the two countries and enhance mutual understanding between their peoples. Both sides will take various measures to encourage citizens of both countries to travel to each other's countries, encouraging both countries to strengthen air connectivity. China welcomes more cities in Sri Lanka to join the Silk Road Tourism Cities Alliance. Both sides are willing to continue to provide support for tourism promotion activities of the two countries.
15. Both sides are willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as youth, think tanks, sports, media, etc., make good use of the Buddhist exchange ties between the two countries, and deepen people-to-people and sister city exchanges.
16. China will continue to provide support for the development of the health sector in Sri Lanka. The Yunnan Provincial Medical Team is willing to continue to go to Sri Lanka to carry out the "Brightness Action" activities.
17. China appreciates Sri Lanka's active response to President Xi Jinping's initiative of the "Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Action" and joining the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance, and is willing to further promote practical cooperation between the two sides in the field of cultural heritage within the framework of the alliance.
18. Both sides believe that exchanges and cooperation in the field of judicial and law enforcement security are an important part of bilateral cooperation, and are willing to jointly combat transnational crimes such as telecommunications fraud and online gambling. China is willing to provide support for Sri Lanka's judicial and law enforcement security capacity building and police material assistance within its capabilities.
19. Sri Lanka reaffirms its firm support for and active participation in major concepts and propositions such as the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations.
Both sides reaffirm their firm commitment to defending the international system centered on the United Nations, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Both sides are willing to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, jointly advocate for an equal and orderly world multipolarization and inclusive and inclusive economic globalization, and promote all countries in the world to move towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress.
20. During the visit, the two sides signed cooperation documents in fields such as agriculture, tourism, livelihood assistance, and media.
21. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked the Government and people of the People's Republic of China for their warm and friendly reception of him and the Sri Lankan delegation, and invited Chinese leaders to visit Sri Lanka. Chinese leaders expressed their gratitude, and the two sides will maintain communication through diplomatic channels.
