Premier Li Keqiang congratulated Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 67th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Socialist Republic.

Premier Li told Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a message on Feb 4 that — since the two countries established diplomatic ties — their relationship “has witnessed a healthy and stable development” in a consistent manner, and this relationship “has become a model for friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between two neighboring countries.”

China places a high priority on its relationship with Sri Lanka, and is ready to jointly “deepen traditional friendship and expand pragmatic cooperation”, the premier said.

He also said he hopes the China-Sri Lanka strategic partnership will continue to break new ground and to benefit the people of the two countries.