By: Staff Writer
September 23, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to peace, dialogue, and cooperation in international relations, emphasizing the importance of keeping the Indian Ocean free from conflict while acting as a bridge between East and West.
Addressing the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha said Sri Lanka’s strategic location placed unique responsibilities on the island nation. “Sri Lanka stands ready to serve as a bridge of peace and cooperation, enabling connectivity, trade, and cultural dialogue between East and West,” he told the gathering of defence officials from across the Asia-Pacific.
Thuyacontha highlighted Sri Lanka’s longstanding ties with China, noting that the relationship spanned more than seven decades and was “built on trust, mutual respect, and partnership.” He acknowledged Beijing’s role in protecting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, extending military training opportunities, and supporting the island’s infrastructure development.
On broader regional security, he stressed that disagreements between nations were unavoidable but should never escalate into confrontation. “Dialogue and consultation remain the only sustainable path forward,” he said, underlining Sri Lanka’s preference for diplomacy over rivalry.
Thuyacontha also called for regional initiatives, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, to work in harmony rather than in competition. “We must solve our problems among ourselves, guided by equality and mutual respect,” he stated. “This is the spirit we take from the Beijing Xiangshan Forum towards a future where peace prevails over conflict.”
Recognizing the complexity of regional security, he urged nations to take into account the legitimate security concerns of all parties. He advocated peaceful settlement of disputes, an open and inclusive regional order, and steady progress toward deeper economic integration.
Thuyacontha further echoed sentiments expressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, observing that genuine peace is achieved “not merely through the absence of conflict but through dialogue, understanding, and constructive engagement.”
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum, co-hosted by the China Association of Military Science and the China Institute of International Strategic Studies, convened in Beijing from September 17 to 19. The event brought together senior defence officials and experts from across the Asia-Pacific to deliberate on security challenges and ways to promote cooperation.
For Sri Lanka, participation in such platforms reinforces its foreign policy stance—anchored on neutrality, peaceful coexistence, and engagement with all major powers. With its central location in the Indian Ocean, Colombo seeks to leverage its geostrategic position not as a flashpoint of rivalry, but as a hub for dialogue and constructive regional engagement.
