Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to deepening its strategic cooperative partnership with Sri Lanka during a high-level meeting in Colombo on January 12, 2026. The diplomatic engagement comes as both nations seek to bolster regional stability and address evolving global governance challenges.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized China's readiness to enhance cooperation across infrastructure development, maritime affairs, and cultural exchanges. "Our partnership stands as a model of mutual respect and shared development," Wang stated, highlighting plans to strengthen multilateral coordination through platforms like the United Nations.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath echoed the sentiment, describing China as Colombo's "most reliable strategic partner." The discussions yielded commitments to expand collaboration in tourism connectivity and governance experience-sharing, building on existing projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative framework.
Both ministers emphasized the need to reform global governance systems to better represent developing nations' interests. Wang specifically called for collective resistance against "power bullying" in international relations, advocating for strengthened South Asian regional cooperation mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with mutual assurances on maintaining the one-China principle and coordinating positions on climate action and economic security matters. Observers note the timing coincides with increased Chinese infrastructure investment in Sri Lanka's port modernization projects, seen as crucial for regional trade flows.
