Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga left for China early
Sunday on a five-day state visit at the invitation of Chinese
President Hu
Jintao, said the presidential office in a press
release.??
The president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Anura
Bandaranaike and Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.??
Kumaratunga will hold official talks with President Hu Jintao on
bilateral issues covering areas of economic cooperation as well as
regional and international issues of mutual
interest.???
She is also due to meet with Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao, other Chinese dignitaries and corporate
leaders.??
Kumaratunga is scheduled to deliver a key note address on Monday
at the 10th Anniversary Commemoration of the Fourth World
Conference on Women.???
The president has also accepted an invitation sent by the China
Center for Promotion of International Trade to address a seminar on
trade, investment and tourism promotion.??
Several bilateral agreements in the fields of finance, tourism
and culture are to be signed by the two governments during her
visit, said the release.??
The two sides will also exchange diplomatic notes on the
establishment of a Sri Lanka Consulate in Shanghai to facilitate
business and tourism between the two countries.?
(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2005)