By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Dec. 2 (APD) -- China says it is willing to work together with Sri Lanka to uphold the unity and development space of developing countries, a statement on Sunday said.

The Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, Cheng Xueyuan said that both China and Sri Lanka are developing countries, so they can better understand the importance of an open, inclusive and fair multilateral trading system to their own development, and the necessity of World Trade Organization (WTO) reform under the current situation of rising unilateralism and protectionism.

The Ambassador said this in a statement to coincide with the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) that was just concluded.

“To demonstrate our firm determination to support economic globalization, China has just held the first CIIE in Shanghai. The CIIE has not only provided countries with new opportunities to expand exports to China, but also established a platform for them to carry out trade activities and share business opportunities with each other. This clearly shows China’s responsibility as a major nation in actively promoting economic globalization. Sri Lanka actively participated in the first CIIE. There are altogether six Sri Lankan government organizations taking part in the National Pavilion and 29 quality companies in the Business Exhibition,” the Ambassador said.

He said that located at the center of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has acted as a regional trade center since ancient times.

The Ambassador said that Sri Lanka has not only played its role as a “central node” in promoting global trade development, but also benefited a lot from the free trading system.

“The biggest common issue facing China and Sri Lanka, both as developing members in the WTO, is development which is the core mission of the WTO. Currently, some developed members question the necessity of special and differential treatment on the pretext of significant economic development of some developing members. This runs counter to the WTO rules and violates the interests of the vast majority of developing members. Holding the same expectation for a more open and inclusive multilateral trading system, China is willing to work together with Sri Lanka in upholding the unity and development space of developing members and making our concerns be fully considered and properly dealt with,” he said.

The Ambassador said that with the deepening of friendship and closer economic and trade ties between the two countries, both countries will definitely strengthen cooperation in the global governance system including WTO, defend the common interests, and promote building a community with a shared future for China and Sri Lanka.

(ASIA PACIFC DAILY)