Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has pledged to support Sri Lanka to uplift the living conditions in the country during a bilateral discussion he and a high-powered Chinese delegation had with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation on Sunday at the Xijiao Guest House in Shanghai.
Sri Lanka's External affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, Parliamentarian Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Sri Lanka Ambassador to China Karunatileka Amunugama also participated in the discussions.
The bilateral talks have centered on the progress of large-scale development projects that are currently being funded by the Chinese government.
The Hambanthota Port, Norochcholai coal power plant and the second international airport at Maththala in Hambanthota are some of the mega projects currently funded by China.
In addition China has granted funds to renovate and upgrade facilities of hospitals in the war-ravaged Northern and Eastern provinces and to construct the first phase of the 110-kilometer Matara-Kataragama rail line along the south coast and the reconstruction of a 56- kilometer segment of the rail line between Pallai and Kankasanthurai in the North.
During the talks, the Chinese Premier has assured further assistance to develop infrastructure, particularly the highway network and bridges and improve the general living standards as well as to achieve a higher growth rate in Sri Lanka.
Later, President Rajapaksa participated in the closing ceremony of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China Exhibition in Shanghai, the six-month long exhibition under the theme "Better City, Better Life" that showcased the urban life of world cities in 21st century.
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The first of its kind event, staged in a developing country with the participation of 246 countries and international organizations, has attracted 73 million visitors.
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