Rajapakse backs China's Maritime Silk Road project

Ahead of his first visit to the Indian subcontinent, Chinese President Xi Jinping today got a shot in the arm with Sri Lanka backing his pet Maritime Silk Road project.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has hailed Xi's initiative of 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), saying it will bear significance to his country's development.
Lanka will join China's efforts in the Silk Road trade cooperation, Rajapaksa told state-run Xinhua news agency.
Under the ambitious plan, China plans to build a maze of Silk Roads which includes revival of ancient Silk Road connecting China, Central Asia with Europe, the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor and the MSR.

The MSR, Chinese officials say, aims to connect various ports in the region to increase trade.
Rajapaksa said Xi's visit to Sri Lanka is " important" for the development of the bilateral ties, the Xinhua report said.

He said the two nations have a history of friendly relations and the friendship was ushered into a new era since the two sides upgraded their ties to strategic cooperative partnership in May last year.
"Since I took office of the president, I have toured China for seven times, during which I have met President Xi Jinping on several occasions," Rajapaksa said. "China accounts for the biggest number of my working travel destination and I am looking forward to President Xi's visit."

Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka wishes to boost cooperation with China in trade and investment, which harmonises with the framework of the 21st Century Silk Road.
Since Sri Lanka ended the decade-long civil conflict in 2009, the two countries have effectively cooperated in re-construction and other sectors, said the president.
Chinese enterprises have been carrying out a number of infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and Rajapaksa praised the establishment as having positive impact on his country's social stability and prosperity.
On the planned Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dialogue, Rajapaksa said: "Our cooperation covers many sectors including industry, energy, technology, infrastructure and tourism."

He said the FTA will boost the trade and investment ties as well as Sri Lanka's export to China, creating new momentum for the island nation's development.
Besides Sri Lanka, Singapore has already welcomed the MSR, while India sought more details about its structure.
The final outline of these silk roads is expected to be announced in the next few months.
Xi is set to begin his tour with Maldives tomorrow, followed by Sri Lanka and India. He is the first Chinese President to visit Colombo in about three decades.
He will arrive in Maldives becoming the first Chinese President to visit the country signifying the expansion of China's growing influence in India's backyard.

Maldives was included in Xi's itinerary to his subcontinent visit in the last minute after he cancelled his visit to Pakistan due to political situation there.