June 12, Colombo: The China-Sri Lanka Belt and Road Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and main political parties of Sri Lanka has been established on June 11.

The first meeting of the mechanism, with the theme of Building the Belt and Road Initiative and Promoting Economy and People’s Livelihood, was also held via video link, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) said in a statement.

Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), and leaders of People's Front, United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and People's United Front of Sri Lanka attended and addressed the event.

Song said that China and Sri Lanka are good friends and partners with sincere mutual assistance and long-standing friendship and President Xi Jinping had a phone call with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently and reached important consensus on fighting the epidemic and promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

“The Chinese and Sri Lankan people have helped each other in the joint fight against the epidemic, and our traditional friendship has been deepened. Sri Lanka is an important partner in building the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said.

He added that the further expansion of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Sri Lanka will help promote respective economic development and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

The Chinese Minister said the CPC is ready to work with Sri Lankan political parties to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance, consolidate the political and public support for China-Sri Lanka relations, promote bilateral cooperation in all areas and contribute the political strength to the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Leaders of Sri Lankan political parties noted that the Sri Lankan people hold deep feelings for the Chinese people and sincerely thank China for its valuable support for epidemic prevention and control as well as economic and social development in Sri Lanka.

The fight against the epidemic requires solidarity and cooperation from all sides, and global development and governance cannot be achieved without the participation of all countries, they noted.

To deepen Sri Lanka-China cooperation under the Belt and Road is of great significance in addressing the economic development challenges brought by the epidemic.

Sri Lanka's political parties said they look forward to close exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, and actively advocate the concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, so as to push the Belt and Road Initiative for new progress and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The meeting adopted a joint initiative of the political parties of China and Sri Lanka to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Guo Yezhou, IDCPC Vice-minister, and relevant principal officials from the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Health Commission, attended the video conference.