China, Sri Lanka agree to deepen military ties

China and Sri Lanka today agreed to deepen their burgeoning defence ties as the powerful visiting Lankan defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa held a crucial meeting with a top Chinese military commander in Biejing.

The Chinese offer to enhance defence ties with Sri Lanka came during a key meeting between defence secretary Rajapaksa and Chen Bingde, the chief of the general staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

China was willing to work with Sri Lanka to further enhance friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two nations and armed forces, to promote their comprehensive and cooperative partnership, Chen said.

There has been continuous consolidation and development of China-Sri Lanka relations in recent years, state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua quoted Chen as saying today.

He said that Beijing appreciated Sri Lanka's firm support on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, which were related to China's core interests.

Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahenda Rajapaksa, said the government and armed forces of Sri Lanka appreciated China's support and would continue to advance friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations and two armed forces.

Rajapaksa's visit, following last month’s tour of Sri Lankan foreign minister GL Peiris, is seen as significant.

China, which has emerged as Sri Lanka's biggest donor last year with a billion dollar aid replacing Japan, is also one of biggest supplier of weapons to its army, particularly during the height of its war against the LTTE.

Western donors have curbed aid to Sri Lanka over human rights issues and the government's handling of the final stages of the ethnic conflict with Tamil Tiger separatists, which ended last May.

China is funding large part of the $1.5 billion Southern Hambantota deep water port which is to commence operations in November.

The port is expected make Sri Lanka an important transhipment hub as it was close to major international shipping route.

These initiatives have been a matter of concern in India where it is looked upon as China's attempt to expand its sphere of regional influence into Lanka.

However, Sri Lanka has denied it would provide facilities for a military base for China, saying it is only a commercial port.