China and Sri Lanka have taken steps to deepen economic and trade cooperation, signing key agreements and exploring additional investment opportunities during the eighth meeting of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Trade and Economic Commission in Colombo, according to a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe co-chaired the meeting, during which both sides exchanged in-depth views on advancing high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and safeguarding the multilateral trading system. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed following the talks — one on setting up a trade facilitation working group, and the other on industrial and supply chain cooperation.
Wang said that under the strategic guidance of both countries’ leaders, bilateral trade and investment have grown steadily, with increasing integration of supply chains and stronger people-to-people exchanges.
He pledged China’s support in boosting Sri Lanka’s exports of quality products to China and promoting a balanced, sustainable trade system.
China is also committed to driving investment-led trade, improving the local business environment, and supporting green development and the digital economy, Wang said. He reaffirmed China’s stance in defending the multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and opposing unilateralism and protectionism.
The Sri Lankan side emphasised the country’s strong commitment to the BRI and welcomed Chinese companies to invest in sectors such as agricultural processing and renewable energy (wind and solar). Sri Lanka hopes to strengthen coordination with China on multilateral platforms to protect these shared interests, Minister Samarasinghe said.
At a separate meeting with Wang, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake praised China’s achievements in economic development, science and technology, and key infrastructure.
