“Great step forward for Guangxi-SL trade”

More than 50 companies from China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous province will be at the Guangxi Zhuong investment Forum held in Colombo on Friday 19 May.

“Our Beibu Gulf port is has the closest distance to Sri Lanka. Beibu Gulf shipping and logistics firms are here to take part in May 19’s  Guangxi Zhuong investment Forum in Colombo” said  Secretary of Communist Party of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee Peng Qinghua on 18 May. Secretary Qinghua who in in town leading a 70 member delegation for the Guangxi Zhuang Business and Investors Forum in Colombo that opens on 19 May, was addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen during his courtesy call on Minister Bathiudeen at his Ministry in Colombo 3.

“Both Sri Lanka and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous province enjoys a very important position in the Maritime Silk Road. Guangxi had ties with Sri Lanka 2000 years ago” said Secretary Qinghua, and added: “Now Guangxi wants promote this historic connection with Sri Lanka again. Guangxi’s trade with Sri Lanka in 2014 at a mere $ 5.6 million has increased by 14-fold to $ 79 million in 2016-a very, very short span. We also want to enhance cooperation in tourism, ports and logistics. Specially our Beibu Gulf port is has the closest distance to Sri Lanka. Beibu Gulf shipping and logistics firms are here to take part in May 19’s  Guangxi Zhuong investment Forum in Colombo. More than 50 companies from Guangxi Zhuong are at May 19’s Business Forum.  40 Lankan students are studying in Guangxi. We invite Sri Lanka to take part in the 14^th CAEXPO in Nanning in September this year.”

Minister Bathiudeen, responding the Secretary Qinghua accepted the invitation to take part in 14^th CAEXPO  in Nanning in September and added: “China-Sri Lanka cooperation is historic. May 19 Business Forum is a new and important initiative of the Guanxi Autonomous Region with our Department of Commerce to strengthen the unique neighbourhood and cultural kinship that Guanxi Region has enjoyed with Sri Lanka. I strongly believe that this Forum would be a key milestone in taking China-Sri Lanka relations to greater heights. As the Industry Minister, I also offer Guanxi Government a special dedicated industry zone for the Guanxi industries to set up here and export to South Asian markets using our FTAs with India and Pakistan.”

According to Central Bank, total bilateral trade between China and Sri Lanka topped $ 4.4 Bn in 2016.

Minister Bathiudeen was among the 15 Chinese and ASEAN high profile leaders joining the CAEXPO 13 held in Nanning city of Guangxi in September 2016. Sri Lanka was the first South Asian country to take part at CAEXPO series as a Special Guest Country.