President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is currently on an official visit to China to participate in the Belt & Road Forum for International Cooperation has engaged in an observational tour of Chinese multinational technology corporation, Huawei.
The President has also attended a prominent investment, trade and tourism forum with a strong focus on fostering future business opportunities.
Furthermore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in an official meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Beijing today (Oct 17).
Following are the 03 latest developments on the President’s ongoing visit to China;
1. President meets Indonesian President during China visit
President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the need to enhance the political, economic and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Indonesia by reinforcing the Indian Ocean’s identity, during an official meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Beijing today (Oct 17).
During the meeting, the two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on further strengthening political, cultural and economic ties between the two countries. Furthermore, they deliberated on the implications of the economic crisis and the palm oil ban on the trade activities connecting the two nations. President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to establish free trade agreements with various Asian countries and to formalize the existing agreement with India. In response, the Indonesian President expressed the timeliness of working towards a free trade agreement between Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The leaders exchanged in-depth insights on global economic and political trends and how they address these challenges as small states in the Asian region.
2. Observational tour of Huawei’s research and development centre in Beijing
President Ranil Wickremesinghe embarked on an observational tour of Huawei’s research and development centre in Beijing where the company announced its readiness to support an annual study program aimed at nurturing software and hardware engineers in Sri Lanka. Noting the crucial role of both the Chinese government and Huawei in supporting Sri Lanka’s digital education system and green energy production, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the need for Sri Lanka to build a competitive digital and green economy to face the challenges of the future.
The Deputy Chairman of Huawei in China said that Huawei has already initiated collaborations with several Sri Lankan universities, not only in academic assistance but also in providing technology and infrastructure. Discussions extended to the importance of empowering Sri Lankan citizens with digital technology, which is closely linked to the nation’s economic growth. An agreement was signed during this visit, formalizing Huawei’s support for the digitization of Sri Lankan schools.
3. President attends investment, trade and tourism forum
President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended a warm invitation to Chinese entrepreneurs, encouraging them to view Sri Lanka as a strategic hub for emerging green and digital economic ventures, highlighting the nation’s significant advancements in this domain.
Addressing a prominent investment, trade and tourism forum with a strong focus on fostering future business opportunities, President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored Sri Lanka’s unique geographic advantage, positioning it as a gateway to Western markets within the broader Asian region. The President also expressed Sri Lanka’s strong desire to engage amicably with global economic powerhouses and reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding Sri Lanka’s economy. (NewsWire)