This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The Chinese and Sri Lankan governments have defined the year as one of friendship between the two countries. Adding to this is the forthcoming state visit to China by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, which will become another important milestone in the countries' bilateral relations.

Historical ties

Historically, China and Sri Lanka have enjoyed friendship and cooperation. The common religious and cultural exchanges as well as trade ties between the two nations can be traced back 2,000 years.

Recorded evidence is available at least from the 5th century, when the Chinese scholar monk Fa Xian spent two years in a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka studying Buddhist scriptures and compiling a book entitled Travels to a Buddhist Kingdom .

About 600 years ago, the famous Chinese navigator Zheng He visited Sri Lanka at least five times. On most of these voyages, the economic and cultural linkages were the most important.

In modern times, shortly after Sri Lanka secured her own independence and the People's Republic of China was founded, the two countries signed what is known as the Rubber-Rice Pact in 1952. It laid the foundation for the fair exchanges of the two commodities and symbolized political and economic nexuses between the two countries.

It is significant that this event took place earlier than the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations. It was one of the earliest examples of the principle now widely accepted that countries with different political or social systems should nevertheless work together in the interests of their peoples.

In the contemporary era, Sri Lanka stood as one of the co-sponsors of the UN resolution to restore China's legitimate seat in the United Nations. It remains fresh in people's memory that the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai delivered a speech in the rain at the Independence Square in Colombo during the celebration of Sri Lanka's 9th Independence Day. It was in 1957, under the leadership of the late S.W.R.D Bandaranaike, that Sri Lanka established formal diplomatic relations with China at a time when some sections of the world community were still on unfriendly terms with China.

The relationship has been exceptionally rewarding and mutually beneficial to both countries. The two sides have increasingly enhanced mutual political trust, deepened cooperation in economy and trade, and strengthened coordination in international affairs. We have enjoyed a long-term friendship and the bilateral relations have been developing smoothly and steadily since China and Sri Lanka forged diplomatic ties 50 years ago.

Period of development

In recent years, the bilateral relations between China and Sri Lanka have entered a new period of all-around development.

High-level exchanges between the two countries have maintained a strong momentum. The leaders of China and Sri Lanka have regularly visited each other's country.