A current Vice Premier and a prominent leader of government of China, Zhang Dejiang arrived in Sri Lanka Thursday night on a three-day official visit from the 10th to 12th June 2010.
Vice Premier Dejiang is here on an invitation extended to him by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne. The two countries are seeking to enhance bilateral economic ties.
During his visit Vice Premier Dejiang, is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne, and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa meanwhile is scheduled to arrive in the country on Friday after a successful tour in India.
China has offered financial assistance of US$ 200 million to build the second airport in Hambanthota of the deep South. Among the other major development projects underway with Chinese assistance are the Colombo-Katunayake expressway project, Norochcholai power plant, Hambantota port development project, tank farm project at Hambantota, and the road infrastructure project.
Since 2006, the Chinese government has provided Sri Lanka with US $ 3.06 billion financial assistance, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Ranjith Siyambalapitiya recently revealed. However, out of that only US $ 35.77 million were grants.
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