BEIJING, April 26, (ChinaMil) -- Wu Shengli, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and commander of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), met with Jayanath Colombage, the visiting commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, on the afternoon of April 25, 2013 in Beijing.
Wu Shengli stated that China and Sri Lanka share profound friendship. The bilateral relations have always been developing in a healthy manner since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 56 years ago, as evidenced by increasing exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
The relations between Chinese and Sri Lankan militaries have been developing smoothly as evidenced by constantly expanded cooperation areas and enriched cooperation contents, and the relations have been further developed. The cooperation in such fields as high-level reciprocal visits, warships' visits and personnel training between the two navies has maintained a good momentum of development.
Wu Shengli also expressed his appreciation to the Sri Lankan side for its positive role in maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity. The PLA Navy will continue to dispatch high-ranking delegations to Sri Lanka's "Galle Dialogue" international maritime security conference and support "Galle Dialogue" to develop into an important platform committed to discussing regional maritime security issues. The PLA Navy is willing to constantly strengthen its friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with the Sri Lankan Navy, continue to push forward the bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as reciprocal visits of delegations and groups as well as warships, and personnel exchanges, and hold joint maritime military exercise with the Sri Lankan Navy at right time.
Colombage expressed that the Sri Lankan side attaches great importance to its relations with the Chinese side and hopes to take this visit as an opportunity to further strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between the two navies.