Declaring that China and Sri Lanka share a time-honoured friendship, and the ancient Silk Road has long bound the two countries together, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong has said they are now working hand in hand to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
The Chinese envoy said so at a reception held in Colombo to mark the 80th anniversary of their victory over Japan in WW 11.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said: “From the progress of the Hambantota Port to the rise of the Colombo Port City, and from infrastructure connectivity to the deepening of cultural exchanges, we are jointly writing a vivid chapter in the building of a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future through concrete actions. This epic new chapter of cooperation is the most vibrant tribute to history, the most solid foundation for peace, and will surely paint an even brighter picture for the future of Sri Lanka.”
Obviously referring to the tariff war with the US and rapid developments taking place globally, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said: “The lessons of history are still fresh. They warn us that militarism will not bring lasting peace. Whether in a cold war, a hot war, a tariff war, or a technology war, there will be no winners. Hegemonism and the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak must not be allowed to return.
Faced with new circumstances and challenges, the authority and core role of the United Nations can only be strengthened, not weakened. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter have never become outdated. On the contrary, they have become even more important. At this moment, only a profound consciousness grounded in the lessons of history can anchor our course and prevent humanity from falling back into the cycle of darkness and wars.”