From December 11 to December 13, 2025, at the invitation of the Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation Association, President Yang Wanming of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) led a delegation to Sri Lanka for a friendly visit. During the visit, he met with Bimal Rathnayake, a member of the Politburo of the Sri Lanka People's Liberation Front, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Parliamentary China Friendship Group, and Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development; Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism; Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports; and Vraie Cally Balthasar, Mayor of Colombo. President Yang Wanming also held collective meeting with the heads of several Sri Lankan organizations dedicated to China-Sri Lanka friendship, including the Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation Association, the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, the Sri Lanka China Society, the Sri Lanka-China Journalists' Forum, and the Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association. The meeting focused on strengthening China-Sri Lanka and China-South Asia traditional friendship, as well as enhancing parliamentary, subnational, people-to-people, cultural, and youth exchanges and cooperation. Positive consensus was reached to further deepen these exchanges and cooperation. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, attended the relevant activities.
President Yang Wanming emphasized that China-Sri Lanka relations have a long and storied history. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957, the two countries have supported each other and advanced together, setting an example of friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation. Practical cooperation has achieved significant results, with flagship Belt and Road projects such as the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Comprehensive Development bringing tangible benefits to the two countries. This year, President Xi Jinping held important talks with visiting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, reaching a consensus on deepening the China-Sri Lanka strategic partnership and jointly building a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, providing new strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations.
President Yang stated that China has always regarded Sri Lanka as an important partner in its neighboring diplomacy. Through international friendship city cooperation and platforms such as the Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges and the China-South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum, the CPAFFC will continue to expand exchanges in all areas and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. Moving forward, China is eager to work with Sri Lanka to build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship. By following the important consensus reached by the leaders of two countries, the two sides will promote people-to-people connectivity and contribute to the long-term development of China-Sri Lanka and China-South Asia friendly relations.
(President Yang meets with Bimal Rathnayake, member of the Politburo of the Sri Lanka People's Liberation Front, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Parliamentary China Friendship Group, and Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development)
Minister Bimal Rathnayake expressed that the political parties, parliaments, and governments of Sri Lanka and China have maintained close contact over the years. In September, Sri Lankan parliamentarians attended the Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges at the invitation of the CPAFFC, where they witnessed the prosperity and development of Xinjiang. Sri Lanka is committed to strengthening people-to-people exchanges with China and learning from China's advanced experiences in urban governance, disaster response, and party youth capacity building.
(President Yang meets with Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism)
Minister Vijitha Herath noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Sri Lanka relations have developed in a healthy and stable manner. Sri Lanka attaches great importance to developing its relationship with China and is committed to further enhancing cooperation in economy and trade, investment, infrastructure construction, and other areas, thereby promoting the continued advancement of bilateral relations.
(President Yang meets with Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports)
Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage highlighted that sports play a key role in connecting people's hearts and strengthening friendship. Sri Lanka is eager to deepen cooperation with the CPAFFC and expand exchanges in sports to inject new vitality into the friendship between the two countries.
(President Yang meets with Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthasar)
Mayor Vraie Cally Balthasar emphasized that friendly city exchanges are an important component of China-Sri Lanka cooperation. Colombo is committed to maintaining exchanges and cooperation with its sister city, Shanghai, and strengthening mutual understanding with other Chinese cities and provinces in areas such as culture, youth, tourism, and smart cities.
(Collective meeting with heads of Sri Lankan friendly organizations)
At the collective meeting, Indrananda Abeysekera, President of the Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation Association, and Vice President of the South Asia China Friendship and Cooperation Organization, noted that the CPAFFC has played a key role in strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and Sri Lanka. He expressed the desire to continue working together through cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding. Ananda Goonatilleke, President of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, mentioned that as the oldest China-Sri Lanka friendship organization in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association will continue to uphold its original mission and work tirelessly to preserve the enduring friendship between the two countries. Jinith de Silva, President of the Sri Lanka China Society, highlighted that the concept of "friendship" has always been central to China's foreign policy, and through the long-term efforts of the CPAFFC, the seeds of friendship have been planted in the hearts of the Sri Lankan people and beyond. Nalin Aponsu, President of the Sri Lanka-China Journalists' Forum, expressed a commitment to strengthen mutual trust and deepen emotional ties between the two peoples through truthful storytelling and fair reporting in collaboration with the CPAFFC. Sumathi Dharmawardena, President of the Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association, emphasized that Buddhism has long been a bridge for China-Sri Lanka friendship, and further Buddhist cooperation will drive the healthy development of bilateral relations.
President Yang Wanming expressed sincere condolences to the Sri Lankan people for the significant losses caused by Tropical Cyclone "Ditwah". He assured that the CPAFFC would provide assistance to friendly organizations and support Sri Lanka in overcoming challenges and rebuilding their communities as soon as possible.
Ji Yongjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPAFFC, participated in the visit.
