Sri Lanka looks at good relations with China and India

Jan 19, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is looking at developing good relations with India as well as China, the biggest emerging economies in Asia, the Minister of Investment promotion said. "The reality is that we have to work in the Asian region and India and China are two of our key players. So we would work very closely with these countries," Kabir Hashim, Minister of Investment Promotion and Highways said.

He said Sri Lanka would discuss Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with both the countries. We already have an FTA with India, Hashim said.

So we would be working very closely with India and we would be strengthening our ties with India and we will also look at working with China because they are the two main giants in the Asian region,"

We will be open for policy discussion with these two counties.

As for exports, in 2013, China became Sri Lanka’s second largest supplier with three billion dollar imports accounting for 17 percent of Sri Lanka’s total imports.

Total bilateral trade with China in 2013 stood at USD 3,081 million.

Sri Lanka was also in talks with China in commencing a Free Trade Agreement under the former government.

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