March 30, Colombo (LNW): In a significant development, an agreement has been reached to foster a robust relationship between Shanghai, the leading global port city, and the burgeoning maritime hubs of Colombo and Hambantota in Sri Lanka. The accord was reached during a discussion between Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Shanghai’s Mayor, Gong Seng, in Shanghai, China, on March 29.
Prime Minister Gunawardena highlighted the longstanding Sister City Agreement between Colombo and Shanghai, emphasizing the need to revitalize and expand upon this agreement. Notably, the initial agreement was signed during the tenure of his brother, Prasanna Gunawardena, as Mayor.
During the discussion, the Prime Minister underscored Shanghai’s unparalleled expertise in cargo transportation, handling a staggering 49.5 million containers last year, thus ranking first globally. Sri Lanka stands to benefit immensely from Shanghai’s experiences and insights in this crucial sector.
The Mayor of Shanghai reaffirmed the city’s commitment to sharing its wealth of knowledge and experiences, given its status as a premier business and financial center with an annual production income of 4.72 trillion Yuan. Moreover, Shanghai extended an invitation for Sri Lankan officials to visit and study various fields, including urban development.
Recognizing Shanghai’s remarkable progress in planned urban development, despite its massive population of 25 million people, Prime Minister Gunawardena stressed the invaluable lessons Sri Lanka could glean from Shanghai’s achievements in this realm.
In addition to cooperation in cargo transportation and urban development, the Mayor of Shanghai expressed support for Sri Lanka across various sectors and extended an invitation for officials to explore opportunities in Shanghai firsthand.
Moreover, both parties agreed to explore the possibility of increasing flights between Colombo and Shanghai to accommodate the growing interest of Chinese tourists in visiting Sri Lanka, renowned for its UNESCO heritage sites.
State Ministers Shehan Samesinhe and Ashoka Priyantha, along with Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, were part of the Sri Lankan delegation participating in the discussions, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering closer ties with Shanghai and leveraging its expertise for the benefit of Sri Lanka’s development and progress.
