The least developed countries and developing countries will benefit specially from China's "Belt and Road" initiative, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, advisor to the Finance Minister of Sri Lanka, said in Hong Kong on Monday.

Addressing the 2nd ASEAN Development Forum, Abeyagoonasekera, citing his country as an example, said Sri Lanka's first highways and many other infrastructure projects have been built with China's assistance from which his nation has benefited immensely.

Due to its strategic location at the "Belt and Road," Sri Lanka can promote trade by connecting China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Africa and Europe, he pointed out.

All the 10 ASEAN nations could use Sri Lanka as a transshipment logistic hub to export their goods to the western markets and also as a service hub, Abeyagoonasekera further maintained.

China and Sri Lanka established trade relations during the period of ancient Silk Road and the historical glory could be revived to improve modern day cultural connectivity among the nations through the Chinese initiative, he said.

Viewing it as a connector rather than a threat, Abeyagoonasekera said China's "Belt and Road" initiative will assist the entire global trade and benefit all countries and improve the living conditions of people in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

In his recent visit to Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping revealed that China will provide 60 billion U.S. dollars to support implementation of projects that advance development, peace, security and health in Africa.

Abeyagoonasekera said the pledge is commendable and the whole continent of Africa in which many nations are suffering from poverty will have a better future.

He believes that China's "Belt and Road" initiative will drastically improve connectivity through interactions between regions, industries and civil societies in the coming years.

The 2nd ASEAN development forum, with the theme of "Connectivity through Interactions between Regions, Industries and Civil Societies," was hosted by the Asia Pacific Daily.

On the sidelines of the forum, Abeyagoonasekera told Xinhua "Any change of the government (in Sri Lanka) cannot affect the strong relations between China and Sri Lanka."

Any change of the government (in Sri Lanka) cannot reset the things which have been done between China and Sri Lanka because Sri Lankan people have felt the benefit the Chinese government has given to Sri Lanka such as highways, he said.

"China has given unconditional support to Sri Lanka and the port city project will definitely go forward. China and Sri Lanka should develop more industrial zones in Sri Lanka like those in Malaysia," Asanga added.

(Xinhua)