On September 10, 2008, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and Prime Ministerr Ratnasiri Wickramanayake met respectively with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Colombo.

During the meeting, Rajapakse congratulated Yang on the success of the Beijing Olympic Games. Rajapakse said Sri Lanka thanks China for its long-time support and assistance for Sri Lanka’s economic and social development, adding that the Chinese people are a true friend of the Sri Lankan people. He noted that Sri Lanka will continue to adhere firmly to the one-China policy and be committed to maintaining and enhancing its friendly cooperation with China.

Yang Jiechi thanked for Sri Lanka’s active support of the Beijing Olympics. Yang said the Sino-Sri Lankan relations had continually progressed based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. He thanked Sri Lanka for its firm support on issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet. China has always understood and supported the Sri Lankan government’s efforts to safeguard state sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity. Facts prove that the two countries are trustworthy friends, partners with sincere cooperation and neighbors sharing weal and woe. The leaders of the two countries announced the establishment of China-Sri Lanka all-round cooperative partnership of sincere mutual assistance and friendship for generations, which set a direction for future development of bilateral ties, said Yang. China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to push the ties to a new level, he added.

Rajapakse said his government is dedicated to finding a political solution to the island's ethnic conflict and achieving national reconciliation. Yang said as a friendly neighbor, China is paying close attention to the development of Sri Lanka's domestic situation. He said China hopes Sri Lanka will achieve peace, stability and development soon.

While meeting with Yang Jiechi, Wickramanayake spoke highly of bilateral ties, reaffirming that Sri Lanka hopes to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China. The Sri Lankan side welcomes investments from Chinese businesses, he said.

Yang said there is broad prospect for bilateral cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. China will continue to offer assistance within its ability to Sri Lanka and is ready to discuss with the Sri Lankan side ways of pushing forward cooperation in investment, infrastructure construction and other areas.

On the same day, Yang also held talks with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, exchanging views on furthering China-Sri Lanka relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern. Both sides reached consensus in the following four aspects. First, maintain high-level contacts and expand exchanges between legislative bodies, political parties, foreign ministries and local governments of the two countries. Second, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, well implement coal power plant, port, communications and other cooperation projects in Sri Lanka and encourage Chinese companies to increase imports from Sri Lanka. Third, expand cultural exchanges and advance cooperation on education, human resources training and tourism. Fourth, enhance communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and jointly safeguard legitimate rights and interests of developing nations.

Bogollagama briefed Yang about the outcome of the 15th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held last month in Colombo. The Sri Lankan foreign minister said as the rotating chairman of the regional organization, Sri Lanka will contribute to promoting relationship between China and SAARC. Yang said China attaches great importance to its relationship with SAARC and hopes to cooperate with the regional organization based on the principles of equality, mutual-trust and win-win cooperation.

The two foreign ministers also signed relevant documents on bilateral economic cooperation.