Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has assured his personal intervention into a request by his Sri Lankan counterpart to assist in rebuilding roads, railways and bridges affected by Cyclone Ditwah devastation, the island nation’s Foreign mMinister said in a statement.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Sri Lanka during a short visit and Minister Herath for a discussion.
Minister Hearth in a statement said the discussions focused on further advancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, development cooperation and tourism. It also focused on the reconstruction process of Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditvah.
“In this regard, I particularly requested the assistance of the Chinese government in infrastructure development including reconstruction of identified roads, railways and bridges which were affected..” Herath said in a statement.
“and Minister Wang Yi assured his personal intervention to the said request and expressed confidence that Sri Lanka is on the right track for early recovery, and reaffirmed the Chinese Government’s fullest support.”
Wang Yi’s visit comes three weeks after Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishanker’s visit which saw a pledge of US$450 million assistance including a US$100 million grant for Sri Lanka’s rebuilding after the Ditwah disaster.
India pledged to assist restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, support for construction of houses, support for health and education systems, agriculture; and better disaster response and preparedness.