29 November 2024 08:26 am Views - 101
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Sri Lanka must not bow to external pressure and must maintain an independent foreign policy, especially at a time when some ‘parties’ are trying to take advantage of its economic situation, China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong told a group of journalists in Colombo last evening.
In an in-depth interaction, clearing China’s stance and future relations with Sri Lanka, Qi said that some parties had portrayed it to the Sri Lankan side that the island needs the help of other countries to recover from its economic situation. Qi said this statement was incorrect, as the Sri Lankan people must be confident in themselves and look at strengthening ties with friendly partners such as China.
“China does not have any personal agenda to be in Sri Lanka or help the Sri Lankan people. We firmly believe that China’s assistance to Sri Lanka will help it become an independent nation and also help it withstand foreign pressure. With the consecutive elections and the victory of the new government, Sri Lanka has opened a new chapter and China is confident in Sri Lanka’s future,” Qi said.
Reiterating that relations between China and Sri Lanka had been strained when the former government rejected China’s request for a scientific research vessel to enter Sri Lankan waters, Qi said that it was disappointing to note that despite the strong ties, the former Sri Lankan government took such a stance.
He said that those research vessels were welcomed in Maldivian waters, but were surprised and disappointed when Sri Lanka rejected it.
The Chinese envoy further said that despite some ‘parties’ maintaining that China had invested in ‘white elephant’ projects in Sri Lanka, he said that each project the Chinese had invested in had been at the previous Sri Lankan government’s request. Citing Lotus Tower as an example, he said that after the tower was leased to a private company, it started making a profit and has become an icon for Sri Lanka. Commenting on the Hambantota Port and Colombo Port, he said both ports were garnering massive revenue for the Sri Lankan government and firmly asserted that when projects are built at the Sri Lankan government’s request, the country must then know how to operate it.
“Some former parliamentarians call some of these projects as ‘White Elephant’ projects. But these allegations are baseless. China built these projects on Sri Lanka’s request and it was the poor operation of these projects from the Sri Lankan side that led to it being unutilised,” Qi said.
Speaking on allegations of China’s debt trap, Qi said there was no such thing as a debt trap stating that China itself was a developing country but yet provided loans and investments to Sri Lanka. This was done due to the strong friendship shared between the two countries and at Sri Lanka’s request.
“When the loan is given, the creditor should not be blamed. Instead, the one who should be blamed is the one who does not know how to use the loan in a correct manner,” Qi said.
Qi further said that despite seven rounds of discussions with Sri Lanka, talks on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries were still at a standstill because the Sri Lankan side thought it was best to consult different groups on this matter. He said there were also allegations from these groups that if the FTA is signed that Sri Lanka would be dominated by the Chinese market. Qi said such allegations were false and misleading.
“I can assure you that if the FTA is signed and if the Sri Lankan side feels that China is taking advantage, then after a year they can adjust the agreement. There are many other countries benefitting from an FTA with China. Why would we take advantage of Sri Lanka?” Qi queried.
Commenting on the economic situation, Qi said that Sri Lanka should reach a consensus with its creditors as if it remains without settling its old loans, any new loans the country takes will become a burden. He said some creditors will also use it to their advantage and gain more interest from Sri Lanka.