-Highlights importance of CPEC project
-Sees CPEC to boost trade to Central Asia
-Claims CPEC to open new avenues for development of regional ties
-Reaffirms Pakistan’s supports for regional peace
-Lankan Premier thanks PM Imran for special visit
-Both PMs vow to further strengthen bilateral ties
DM Monitoring
COLOMBO: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Tuesday the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could help extend economic ties to Central Asia, including Sri Lanka.
Addressing a press conference alongside his Sri Lankan counterpart, PM Imran said his first visit to the country was when “I was starting my cricket career”.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka were facing issues such as terrorism, the premier underscored. “Pakistan has been the victim of the worst terrorism for ten years, sacrificing 70,000 lives” over the past decade,” he stated.
The prime minister invited Sri Lanka to promote its economic and regional ties through Pakistan. “Through the CPEC [China–Pakistan Economic Corridor], economic ties can be extended to Central Asia and Sri Lanka,” he said. Pakistan is an “important component” of the CPEC, which he said would “open new avenues for the development of regional ties”.
PM Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked the premier for Pakistan’s cooperation in the field of sports. The two leaders held a one-on-one meeting and discussed issues of bilateral and regional importance. They also affirmed the resolve to strengthen relations in diverse areas in the meeting held at Temple Trees the Sri Lankan prime minister’s office and focused on strengthening ties in areas of trade and investment, health and education, agriculture, science and technology, security, culture and tourism.
Earlier in the afternoon, PM Rajapaksa received PM Imran Khan on the latter’s arrival here at the Bandaranaike International Airport, where he was also given a guard of honour upon his arrival.
The Pakistani premier is the first head of state to visit Sri Lanka after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa assumed office last year, indicating the importance both countries attach to their important relationship.
PM Imran Khan is undertaking the two-day official visit to the island nation on the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including members of the Cabinet and senior officials.
He was expected to also participate in a joint ‘Trade and Investment Conference’ aimed at promoting trade and investment between the two countries.
A number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to enhance bilateral cooperation would be signed during the visit.
Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa received Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The premier was given guard of honour by the contingent of Sri Lankan forces and a gun salute at a special welcome reception ceremony held at the airport.
A red carpet was rolled out for Prime Minister Imran Khan and the national anthems of Pakistan and Sri Lanka were played on the occasion. Cultural troupe attired in traditional dresses presented a welcome dance.
Prime Minister Imran Khan left earlier on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.
This is his first visit to Sri Lanka after assuming the office of prime minister.
In a tweet, the Sri Lankan prime minister said: “I warmly welcome Prime Minister Imran Khan of #Pakistan who is on his maiden visit to #SriLanka. I Look forward to interacting with the PM and his delegation on matters of mutual interest to both our nations.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also shared news of his arrival alongside the prime minister.
In a tweet, Qureshi said that Sri Lanka and Pakistan share a “close relationship” and “all areas of cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be discussed and strengthened” during the visit.
According to reports, the premier will hold talks with the Sri Lankan leadership to further enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors. The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including members of the cabinet and senior officials.
During the visit, PM Imran will hold meetings with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his Sri Lankan counterpart to exchange views on key regional and international issues.
He will also lead delegation-level talks, covering all areas of cooperation between the two countries, including trade, investment, health, education, agriculture, science and technology, in addition to defence and culture tourism.
PM Imran will also participate in a joint ‘Trade and Investment Conference’ aimed at promoting trade and investment between the two countries. A number of agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation will be signed during the visit.
Earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had said that the reconstitution of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Parliame¬n¬tary Friendship Associa¬tion will also be announced to further promote parliamentary exchanges bet¬ween the two countries.
However, the FO had not mentioned the speech to the Sri Lankan parliament.
The Sri Lankan government, while cancelling the event, had officially stated that this was being done because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, diplomatic sources and Sri Lankan media have said that it was done out of concerns that PM Imran could speak about the situation in occupied Kashmir, which could further damage Colombo’s already troubled relations with New Delhi.
Another speculation doing the rounds is that the Sri Lankan government is worried that PM Imran in his speech could make a reference to the plight of Sri Lankan Muslims, who have been facing abuses and discrimination in the Buddhist-dominated country.
FO spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri at the weekly media briefing had said that the elements of the visit would be decided according to “the Covid-19-related health and safety protocols”.
