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SL officials attend seminar in China on economic development & poverty alleviation (Pics)
A seminar on exchanges between China and Sri Lanka in the fields of economic development and poverty alleviation was held in Beijing, China recently.
The seminar – ‘Experience Exchange in the Field of Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation between China and Sri Lanka’ was held from March 23 – April 05 and was attended by 28 officials across 13 different ministries or institutions of Sri Lanka.
The seminar aimed to expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as poverty alleviation and development, rural vitalization, digital economy, and green development, and was designed to help Sri Lanka officials improve governance capacity.
During the state visit to China, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Xi Jinping reached extensive common understandings on governance and development experience sharing and exchanges and the seminar was held to implement this consensus.
Chinese experts were invited to the seminar to give lectures and host discussions on a wide variety of topics, including the interpretation of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Economy, introduction of China’s national conditions, the procedure and methodology of China’s national development planning, China’s poverty alleviation and poverty reduction experience, digital governance, and China’s rural revitalization policy and practice, etc.
Besides, the seminar organized field research and exchanges with local government departments and relevant enterprises, allowing participants to gain an in-depth understanding of China’s latest progress in the fields of economic development, poverty alleviation and reduction, green and low-carbon development, and digital economy.
In Shijiazhuang of Hebei Province, the participants visited Majiazhuang and learned about the experience of Chinese villages in utilizing agricultural technology to increase production and income, actively expanding sales channels for agricultural products, and improving the quality of life.
In Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, the participants visited Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group and had a discussion with the executives of the enterprise, so as to gain a deeper understanding of the development mode of China’s digital economy and its important role in promoting industrial upgrading and economic transformation.
In Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, the participants visited the photovoltaic power generation project in Longshan Town of Cixi City, and had a discussion with the relevant management departments of Ningbo Port to learn about China’s advanced experience in green and low-carbon development and efficient operation of ports.
According to the Chinese embassy in Colombo, the seminar is not only a vivid portrayal of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation among developing countries. It is also a further deepening of cooperation and exchanges between China and Sri Lanka in the economic field, which will help introduce China’s experience in economic development and poverty alleviation into Sri Lanka, and inject a strong impetus to promote high-quality China-Sri Lanka cooperation in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
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World Bank Group President meets with President AKD (Pics)
President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga met with President Anura Kumara Disanayake this afternoon (07) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
This visit marks a milestone, as it is the first time in nearly two decades that a World Bank Group President has visited Sri Lanka.
During the meeting, discussions centred on strengthening collaboration to support Sri Lanka’s future development agenda. Priority areas identified included digitalisation, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure development, with particular emphasis on identifying short-term rewards, including advancing development in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
The Sri Lankan government’s efforts to establish a robust legal framework conducive to attracting new investments and recent policy initiatives were also discussed during the meeting.
Attendees at the meeting included Trevor Kincaid, Special Advisor – World Bank Group, David Sislen, Country Division Director – Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka – World Bank Group, Imad Fakhoury, Regional Director – South Asia International Finance Corporation and Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager – Maldives & Sri Lanka¸ World Bank Group.
Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Harshana Suriyapperuma and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponsu, along with several other dignitaries, also attended the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
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SL – Vietnam sign 04 MoUs (Pics)
Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one Agreement were signed yesterday (May 05) between Sri Lanka and Vietnam, in the presence of President Anura Kumara Disanayake and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Luong Cuong.
Among the agreements signed was a bilateral pact on enhancing cooperation and mutual support in customs affairs between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Additionally, an MoU between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development of Sri Lanka on cooperation in machinery and equipment manufacturing, an MoU between the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka on cooperation in agriculture, an MoU between the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) of Sri Lanka and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and an MoU between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board on trade promotion cooperation.
These agreements aim to facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of diplomats, experts, officials, scholars and researchers, while also encouraging the organization and participation in academic and research programmes, training initiatives and conferences related to diplomacy.
They also provide a platform for a broad range of trade promotion activities, including the exchange of trade and market intelligence, joint participation in trade fairs and exhibitions in both countries, and the organization of business networking events for private sector representatives.
It is expected that this enhanced cooperation will unlock significant market opportunities for both countries, particularly in the sectors of value-added agriculture, fisheries, apparel and Processed food.
The signing took place following bilateral discussions held at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi earlier in the morning.
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President pays homage at Bai Dinh Pagoda (Pics)
As part of the on-going state visit to Vietnam, President Anura Kumara Disanayake visited the Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia yesterday afternoon (04), where he paid homage and received blessings.
The President received a warm and heartfelt welcome from the Vietnamese people, who had gathered near the entrance of the temple, waving the national flags of both Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
A large crowd lined the pathway within the temple grounds to catch a glimpse of the Sri Lankan President, expressing their respect and goodwill by waving the two nations’ flags.
Upon reaching the main Buddha shrine, President Disnayake paid his respects. The resident monks then chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the President.
Subsequently, the President paid homage at the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling on the temple grounds, a sacred branch from the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was gifted to the Bai Dinh Pagoda and planted there in 2023.
The outer wall constructed around the sacred Bodhi under the technical guidance of Sri Lanka’s Central Cultural Fund was also officially declared open by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on this occasion.
Later the President planted a sapling of the sacred Sal tree within the temple premises, and observed the commemorative plaque marking the occasion.
As a gesture of reverence, President Disanayake presented a memento to the Chief Incumbent of the temple.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, along with other members of the Sri Lankan delegation, were also present for the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
This week’s Cabinet decisions
New Commissioner General appointed to Examinations Dept.
