Sri Lankan FM heads to Chinese capital

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana will pay an official visit to China from October 29 to November 4 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, a spokesperson said here yesterday.“It is Marapana’s first official visit to China, and China attaches great importance to the upcoming visit,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.According to Geng, Chinese leaders will meet Marapana, and he will also attend celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties, reports Xinhua news agency.“This year, China and Sri Lanka have reached broad consensus within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” Geng said. “China hopes Marapana’s upcoming visit will promote the implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries, as well as the joint construction of the Belt and Road.“China also hopes Marapana’s visit will plan co-operation in politics, economy and people-to-people exchanges to push forward the strategic partnership of co-operation.”