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BRI cooperation, based on principle of planning, building & benefiting together – Xi
Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping says that the Belt and Road cooperation is based on the principle of “planning together, building together, and benefiting together.”
“China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better,” he said.
He made these remarks while addressing the 3rd Belt and Road Forum opening ceremony which kicked off at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this morning (18).
What has been achieved in the past 10 years demonstrates that Belt and Road cooperation is on the right side of history. It represents the advancing of our times, and it is the right path forward, President Xi added.
China will work with its BRI partner countries to strengthen the building of multilateral cooperation platforms covering energy, taxation, finance, green development, disaster reduction, anti-corruption, think tank, media, culture and other fields, President Xi further said.
8 steps
President Xi also announced eight major steps China will take to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
These are : building a multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network, supporting an open world economy, carrying out practical cooperation, promoting green development, advancing scientific and technological innovation, supporting people-to-people exchanges, promoting integrity-based Belt and Road cooperation and strengthening institutional building for international Belt and Road cooperation.
Historic opportunity
Meanwhile, addressing the event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said the Belt and Road Initiative provides historic opportunity while hailing its contribution to global infrastructure.
The UN chief also said that there can be no development without development support, and many developing countries will be starved of the infrastructure they desperately need.
“This is why this meeting and the Belt and Road (Initiative) are so important,” he added.
“The Belt and Road (Initiative) demonstrates that we have a historic opportunity to build more than green cities, communities and transportation and power systems,” he said.
“Together, with the contribution of the Belt and Road Initiative, we can turn the infrastructure emergency to infrastructure opportunity,” said Guterres.
A host of world leaders
The opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative forum was participated by world leaders from 20 nations as well as representatives from over 130 countries and 30 international organizations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also addressed the gathering.
The forum also featured three high-level sub-forums on connectivity, green development, digital economy, as well as several seminars.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the opening ceremony, where leaders from various states were accorded military honours and gathered for a group photograph alongside the Chinese President.
– Shanika Jayasekara reporting from Beijing
(Pics : Xinhua)
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Jim Brown Nagar model village handed over to beneficiaries (Pics)
On 26 May 2025, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Santosh Jha and Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing – T. B. Sarath, jointly inaugurated and handed over Jim Brown Nagar Model Village in Mannar to the 24 beneficiary families.
The event was also attended by MP Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran – Mr. Ranjith Ariyarathne Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; District Secretary, Mannar; Chairman and senior officials from National Housing Development Authority, and senior officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka; Northern Provincial Council and Mannar District Administration.
The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of the island jointly with the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka with grant support from the Government of India. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka was signed for the project in October 2017. The project encompasses housing facilities for 600 low-income families of Sri Lanka, with a model village each consisting of 24 houses per district for families selected by the District Housing Committees.
Model villages under the project have earlier been inaugurated and handed over in 13 districts: Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Kandy, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Matale, Puttalam, Colombo, Trincomalee, Monaragala and Kilinochchi. The project progress is over 97% and the remaining model villages too are expected to be inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries soon.
Entertainment
‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’ bids adieu (Pics)
The funeral of Malini Fonseka, revered as the ‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’, was held yesterday (May 26) under state patronage at the Independence Square, Colombo 7.
Thousands of fans yesterday paid last respects to her both at her residence in Madiwela and at Tharangani Hall, where her remains lay in state, before being taken to Independence Square.
The iconic actress passed away on May 24 at the age of 78, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
(Pics : Nirosha Jayawardena)
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Vesak celebrated at Lankaji Temple in Japan (Pics)
Japan’s first Theravada Buddhist temple – the Lankaji Vihara held their 41st Vesak Festival on May 25 with a large group of Buddhist devotees from both Sri Lanka and Japan.
The festival was held in accordance with the Theravada tradition under the patronage of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero who is the President of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan, Chief Priest-Lankaji Temple, Japan and the Chief Monk of the -Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya.
Newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe, and Member of Parliament – Shanakiyan Rasamanickam were also in attendance.
The Vesak meritorious festival organized by Ven. Koswatte Palitha Thero of Savara Lankaji Vihara and guided by Ven. Upatissa Na Thero. Ven. Galabada Assaji Thero of Lankaji Vihara performed the Sambuddha Pooja in the morning and midday as well as the Atavisi Gilanpasa Buddha Pooja in the evening.
The alms ceremony was conducted by the incumbent of Lankaji Vihara – Ven. Yatawara Pannarama Thero, while the Viharastha Dayaka Sabha organized morning and midday alms givings for the incumbent and visiting Maha Sangha at the temple.
Additionally, food and tea receptions organized by Sri Lankan families and institutions in Japan were held throughout the day at the temple.
Speaking at the event, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe praised the Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero for guiding numerous young Sri Lankans in Japan for nearly forty years and expressed hope that his guidance would strengthen Japan-Sri Lanka relations, enhancing economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
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