China responds to Gotabhaya's Bloomberg statement

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Sri Lanka would help Sri Lanka overcome the current difficulties.

He was responding to a question posed by a journalist at a press conference  (June 8) regarding a statement made by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during an interview with Bloomberg.

He said China as a friendly neighbor pays close attention to the difficulties and challenges facing Sri Lanka and China has supported Sri Lanka's socio-economic development.

Zhao Lijian stated that after the Sri Lankan government announced the suspension of international loans, Chinese financial institutions liaised with Sri Lankan agencies to find a way to manage China's overdue debt and express their readiness to assist Sri Lanka in overcoming the current difficulties. That has been done.

He also said that China hopes that Sri Lanka will work proactively with China and work out a viable solution as soon as possible.

Accordingly, Zhao Lijian stated that China is ready to work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to play a positive role in continuing to support Sri Lanka's response to the current difficulties and efforts to ease the debt burden and achieve sustainable development.

He noted that in the meantime, China believes that Sri Lanka will enhance its efforts, protect the legitimate rights and interests of investment and financial partners, and ensure the stability and credibility of Sri Lanka's investment and financial environment.

Zhao Lijian further stated that China is ready to work with India and the rest of the international community to alleviate the plight of Sri Lanka and other developing countries as soon as possible.

He said the Indian government had also done a lot for Sri Lanka and China appreciated those efforts.

Zhao Lijian further stated that the Chinese Government will make the most of the opportunities available to assist Sri Lanka.

In an interview with Bloomberg on June 6, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa stated that Sri Lanka could not obtain a $ 1.5 billion loan from China and that there had been no response to China's request for a $ 1 billion loan.

He also said that China appears to be shifting its strategic focus to Southeast Asia and Africa and is less interested in South Asia.