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MEDIA RELEASE
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Minster of Foreign Affairs Ban Ki-Moon of
the Republic of Korea(ROK) re-iterated his country’s steadfast
support to Sri Lanka in its economic programs, when Foreign Minister
Mangala Samaraweera called on him on 17th July 2006 in Seoul, on his first
visit to ROK as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa .
Minister Samaraweera appreciated the ROK Government’s spontaneous
response in the aftermath of the Tsunami and the generous assistance for
rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the recovery phase. In this
connection he referred to the implementation of projects identified under
the Matara Township Development Programme and in particular to the
re-construction of Mahanama Bridge, and the construction of a one thousand
bed hospital in Godagama, and the construction of an International
Convention Center at the Hambantota Administrative Complex.
Minister Samaraweera discussed at length the employment opportunities in
ROK for Sri Lankans. While thanking the ROK for these opportunities, he
requested the ROK Government to provide more employment as Sri Lankans
value the experience they gain by working in Korean establishments.
ROK’s Foreign Minister appreciated the commitment of the government
of President Rajapaksa to pursuing the peace process in Sri Lanka and
reaffirmed ROK’s support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Sri Lanka. Minister Samaraweera briefed Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon on
the developments in the peace process.
He referred to the action taken to draw up a framework for a negotiated
settlement and the establishment of the two mechanisms, the All Party
Representative Committee, at a political level and the multi-ethnic Panel
of Experts despite continuing violence by the LTTE.
ROK’s Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon briefed his Sri Lankan counterpart
on the developments in the Korean peninsula. He expressed the hope that
talks on the denuclearization and establishment of peace and stability in
the peninsula would resume. Foreign Minister Samaraweera stated that Sri
Lanka looks forward to the resumption of the Six Party talks and
implementation of September 19th Joint Statement so that the issue may be
resolved through diplomatic means.
During the discussion on multi-lateral and regional developments the two
Ministers also emphasized that it is Asia’s turn to hold the position
of the next Secretary General of the United Nations and that an Asian
should succeed Mr. Kofi Annan, when his present tenure ends.
The two Foreign Ministers discussed the developments in SAARC, Asia
Regional Forum (ARF) and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue(ACD).Minister
Samaraweera acknowledged with thanks the support articulated by the ROK to
Sri Lanka’s request for observer status in the ARF. It was noted that
the next ACD Meeting will be hosted by ROK in 2007.
Minister Mangala Samaraweera was assisted by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador
in Seoul G Wijayasiri, Additional Foreign Secretary Geetha de Silva and
senior officials. The Mayor of Matara Upul Nishantha and Chairman,
Pradeshiya Sabha Weligama D. Kulaweera were also present on this occasion.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
20th July 2006
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PRESS RELEASE
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Foreign Minister
Mangala Samaraweera, conveyed the greetings and good wishes of President
Mahinda Rajapaksa to President Hu Jintao and the Government and people of
china. When he called on the
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao today (14th July), in Beijing.
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Commending the
Government of Sri Lanka for its efforts at speedy restoration of the
damaged infrastructure facilities and human settlements following the
Tsunami, the Premier offered to continue with the assistance China is
providing towards this work.
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In presenting the
Report, the Leader of the Evaluation Team lauded Sri Lanka’s efforts
to comply with international anti-money laundering standards. Sri Lanka was cited as an example of
a Member State, which, despite substantial difficulties posed by the
prevailing domestic situation, was making every effort to comply with its
international obligations to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.Minister
Samaraweera informed Premier Wen Jiabao of the offer that Sri Lanka is
making to China of an exploration block for the exploitation of petroleum,
as an expression of good will and friendship to China. The Premier thanked the Government
of Sri Lanka for this generous gesture.
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The Chinese
Premier reiterated his country’s support towards Sri Lanka’s
development efforts. He said
that with the dawn of a new era in bilateral relations following the
fiftieth anniversary next year, China looked forward to working closely
with Sri Lanka to further the economic interests of both countries.
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Premier Wen Jiabao
appreciated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the “One China”
policy and reaffirmed China’s support to Sri Lanka in its endeavour
to achieve a negotiated settlement to the ethnic issue in the country.
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Speaking at the
China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) earlier that morning on
“Future Orientations in China – Sri Lanka Relations in the context
of Evolving Political and Economic Development of China”, Foreign
Minister Mangala Samaraweera emphasized the importance of launching new
diplomatic, economic and cultural initiatives and charting paths for future
progress when Sri Lanka and China complete fifty years of diplomatic
relations, in 2007.
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The event was
chaired by Mr. Xu Jian, Vice Chairman of the CIIS.
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Speaking to an
audience comprising diplomats, academics, journalists among others Minister
Samaraweera said that the links between the two countries went far deeper
than fifty years and were built on sold historic links. Stating that the fiftieth
anniversary would be a decisive juncture in this long journey, he said the
new era that would follow was bound to see “mega economic projects
through public and private partnership, unprecedented commercial activity,
joint film production, combined cultural performances, exchange of
expertise and significant travel to each other’s country, thus
building up a large scale people to people contact”.
The Minister referred to the massive economic strides made by China to
emerge as the world’s fourth largest economy and explained to those
present the forward movements made by Sri Lanka in its economic efforts,
referring to the free market economic reforms, the liberal business
environment and the trade policy directed towards developing Sri Lanka into
a regional trading, transhipment and financial hub.
Minister Samaraweera focused on the initiatives launched by the Government
towards building a “New Sri Lanka”, with rapid socio economic
development, in line with the economic vision “Mahinda
Chintana”, of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He also referred to the development
of the rural areas through programmes such as “Gam Neguma”.
The address of Minister Mangala Samaraweera was followed by an question and
answer session.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Beijing
14th July 2006
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PRESS RELEASE
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China’s Minister
of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing stressed the importance of expanding the
relations between the two countries by building on the valued historic
links when Minister Mangala Samaraweers called on him on 13th
July 2006. The meeting took
place during the Sri Lankan Minister’s first visit to China as the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
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Acknowledging that
China – Sri Lanka Diplomatic
Relations complete fifty years in 2007, the two Ministers announced
that they would celebrate in each other’s country the 50th
Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations next year and declared the year 2007 as
the “China – Sri Lanka Friendship Year” to coincide with
this event.
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Minister
Samaraweera briefed Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on the current political
situation in Sri Lanka and the developments in the peace initiative. He re-iterated the commitment of the
Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a negotiated settlement of the
North and East issue and regretted that despite all efforts of the
Government to resume talks with the LTTE, they remain intransigent. He referred to the
Government’s initiative towards formulating a framework for
devolution of power and said that the setting up of the All Party
Representative Committee and the Multiethnic Advisory Group of Experts was
a step in this direction. The
inaugural joint meeting of the two groups was held on July 11th,
with President Rajapaksa chairing it.
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Amongst other
matters of discussion was UN reforms, developments in SAARC and regional
and multilateral matters of significance to the two countries.
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Minister Mangala
Samaraweera was assisted by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Beijing Nihal
Rodrigo, Senior Adviser to the President Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary,
Finance Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and Senior Officials. The Mayor of Matara Upul Nishantha
and Chairman, Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha D. Kulaweera were associated with
the meetings.
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Embassy of Sri Lanka
Beijing.
13th July 2006.
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