Alternate visits of Indian and Chinese delegations to Sri Lanka

A high-level delegation of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) has visited economically troubled Sri Lanka. A high-level Indian delegation will visit the country immediately after their visit. Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will lead the delegation

 Members of the Chinese delegation led by Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, arrived at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday afternoon local time. At this time they were welcomed. The Chinese Embassy in Colombo gave this information on Twitter.

The Chinese delegation is scheduled to stay in Sri Lanka till next Wednesday. During this time, the members of the delegation will participate in the meeting with the government and political leaders of Sri Lanka. They will participate in the distribution of food and children's educational materials among low-income families in Pannila village in Horana, Sri Lanka.

Apart from this, the delegation will emphasize on strengthening the bilateral relations between China and Sri Lanka and increasing the connection of the Chinese Communist Party with the country's political parties. This is the first official visit of a party delegation to Sri Lanka since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Meanwhile, Indian media The Hindu reported on Saturday that an Indian delegation led by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will go to Colombo on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

This is Jaishankar's first visit to Sri Lanka since the fall of the Rajapaksa government in the face of protests and the assumption of power by President Ranil Wickremesinghe last July.

Sri Lanka wants to see 'written assurance' of India's promises of economic recovery and assistance in repayment of outstanding debts. A report in The Hindu stated that the island nation's officials will prioritize this issue in bilateral talks during Jaishankar's visit.

BBC News