The visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday stated that China will not allow any country to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

“China firmly supports Sri Lanka in choosing a development path suited to its national conditions, firmly supports the efforts of Sri Lanka to safeguard its national independence, state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely opposes any move by any country to interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs under any excuse,” Xi said at the beginning of his two-day visit to the island nation yesterday.

President Xi seems to be referring to the US-led bloc which continues to question Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and has got the UN to investigate alleged war crimes.

President’s Xi’s visit saw a number of treaties signed between the two nations. Xi also inaugurated the last phase of the coal power plant at Noraichcholai. Talks on a Free Trade Agreement would also be kicked off during the visit. Xi has said that the two countries should speed up the talks on the FTA.

Referring to China’s massive financial assistance for infrastructural projects in Lanka, Xi said that Chinese aid is meant to make Lanka an industrial country, able to stand on its own feet. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; but teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for life,” he said, quoting a proverb to drive the point home.

Xi urged the Sri Lankans to think big. “The more ambitious the wish, the more powerful it is.”

“China will continue to do what it can to assist Sri Lanka in its economic and social development, which may facilitate industrial development in Sri Lanka and help improve its people’s life. Chinese companies will help Sri Lanka build up its capacity for self-development,” Xi said.

Xi linked Sri Lanka’s development with the ‘21st century Maritime Silk Route’ concept.  “Lanka has envisaged itself becoming a five-fold hub: maritime, aviation, commerce, energy and knowledge, which coincides with China’s proposal to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.”