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High powered Chinese delegation to SL signs agreements to tie up with local SMEs
Originally published in the Sunday Island, December 15, 2019



State Minister for International Cooperation Susil Premajayantha witnesses the signing of the agreements

The first high powered Chinese business delegation to Sri Lanka to arrive under the new government is from the most technological and dynamic hub of China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR or BRI - Belt and Road Initiative) project. Facilitated by Sri Lanka’s Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Industries (COSMI), the high powered Chinese team promptly moved on 9 December for closer B2B and technological ties with leading Sri Lankan industrialists and SMEs by inking two landmark Cooperation Agreements with COSMI.

"Our Mianyan is an important pivot city on the junction of One Belt One Road (OBOR) project. It is the most dynamic city on the China OBOR belt. Mianyan is the only science and technological city approved by the Chinese government. It is also one of eight Chinese national ‘layout areas’ for systematic promotion of comprehensive innovation and a leading electronic and intelligent manufacturing hub with multiple research and tech centres, and is the second largest economy in Sichuan province" said Zhang Zhongcheng, Chairman of China Sichuan Province’ Mianyang Association of Commerce (MAC) on 9 December.

Addressing the pioneering MoU signing and B2B event between them and Sri Lanka’s COSMI at Hilton Colombo, Chairman Zhongcheng-the leader of the 15 member Mianyang business and tech delegation to Sri Lanka-said: "We shall exchange cooperative information and intentions, and also hold one-to-one meetings with SMEs and leading industry representatives of Sri Lanka."

"We are committed to improving bilateral and trade relations with friendly countries" said Minister Premajayantha and added: "In recent years China improved a lot in emerging technologies such as nanotech and biotech. If you start here, Sri Lanka gets that advanced technical knowhow. The Government, especially the President, guarantees the security of the people and your businesses-we assure you that security not only for visiting persons but even for your businesses."