Assistant
President Professor Zhang Li recently visited the Pathfinder Foundation (PF)
together with his team representing the China Institute of Contemporary
International Relations (CICIR) to discuss improving bilateral cooperation
between the two institutions.
CICIR is a
long-standing, broad, and multifunctional research and consulting company that
focuses on financial, political, and security research. The statement, as
mentioned earlier, addresses all the geographical areas and the major strategic
and systematic issues that the world faces. The Pathfinder Foundation and CICIR
have enjoyed a long-term relationship, culminating in a joint publication in
2016 on the theme 'The Island of the Lion and the Land of the Dragon: Essays on
Sri Lanka-China Relations’.
PF Founder
Milinda Moragoda presented Prof. Zhang with a copy of the 'Pathfinder National
Security Strategy 2020 for Sri Lanka' at the beginning of the discussion at
River Point Peliyagoda, PF's head office. He suggested a joint conference on
Track II dialogue on relations between China and Sri Lanka during the follow-up
discussion with CICIR.
PF Chairman
Bernard Goonetilleke stressed China's desirability to build new technical and
vocational training institutions as well as tertiary-level educational
institutions aimed at providing young people with engineering and other skills
to meet the demand of large-scale industries planned for the Hambantota
Industrial Zone, the port and the airport in the area.
PF Executive
Director Luxman Siriwardena highlighted the importance of improving relations
between China and Sri Lanka and suggested the China's FDI and opening its
markets to Sri Lankan products as the most effective way to help Sri Lanka achieve
its economic development goals with new technology, especially with new
concepts such as 'Smart Cities.'
By conducting a
joint study to identify new digital economic opportunities for Sri Lanka, both
sides agreed to pursue future relations.
OSL Take: The
Belt and Road Initiative expected to possibly become the most significant
infrastructure project ever involving 68 countries around the world
resurrecting the old “Silk Road” that used to link Europe and Asia.
The initiative’s
objective is to make economic and trade activities along the route dynamic and
vigorous once again, establishing it as the world’s most dominant trading area.
The Belt and Road Initiative will complement the government of Sri Lanka’s aim
of establishing Sri Lanka as a global hub and also open avenues for innumerable
opportunities.
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