The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce together with the Pathfinder Foundation will hold an informative discussion on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on 27 January 2020. The BRI program initiated by the Chinese Government aims to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through land and maritime networks along six corridors with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.
The keynote address at the forum will be delivered by Professor Yiwei Wang. He is the Jean Monnet Chair Professor, Director of Institute of International Affairs, Director of Center for European Studies at Renmin University of China.
Prof Wang serves as an expert advisor of the CCPIT Advisory Committee and Turkish TRT World Forum, a Council Member of China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) and Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA). He was formerly a diplomat at the Chinese Mission to the European Union (2008-2011) and professor at the Center for American Studies at Fudan University (2001-2008). His recent books include An Interconnected World: China and the Belt and Road Initiative and China Connects the World: What Behind the Belt & Road Initiative.
The Sri Lankan Perspective on the Belt and Road Initiative will be discussed by Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, Additional Secretary to the President (Foreign Relations). The discussion will conclude with an open forum moderated by Professor Sirimal Abeyratne, Head - Department of Economics, University of Colombo and Mr. Shiran Fernando, Chief Economist at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
The event will take place on 27 January 2020 at the Auditorium of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce commencing at 2.30p.m. For registrations, please contact 011 5588877 or email events@chamber.k/ sriyani@chamber.lk.
(Media Release)