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Sir Lanka, China ties are a win-win for both
August 16, 2010, Monday
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EDITOR'S note:
Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Sri Lanka's minister of external affairs, spoke to Shanghai Daily reporter Ni Tao in Shanghai on August 10 about economic and political developments after the country's protracted civil war ended last year, and cementing ties with China. He spoke a day before meeting senior Chinese leaders in Beijing.
Q: What suggestions do you have for the cultural exchange between Sri Lanka and China and is there already a cultural exchange mechanism?
A: There is a lot in common culturally between the two countries, both of which have Buddhist tradition.
On my way here from the airport, I noticed that the driver had a Buddhist statue in his car. That often happens in Sri Lanka also. Moreover, the Sri Lankan dance forms are very popular in the Sri Lanka Expo Pavilion. There are a lot of people who seem interested in the indigenous dance forms displayed there.
That is why tourism matters. A lot of Chinese people would like to go to Sri Lanka. We have rainforests. And we have indigenous forms of medicine. The Oriental tradition in medicine is about getting away from strong drugs, antibiotics and offering forms of treatment that are close to nature, herbs, roots of trees and that kind of things.
That's very popular with Germans in particular. They keep coming to Sri Lanka, so often that there are some hotels that reserve whole sections for tourists who come to Sri Lanka year after year in search of Oriental forms of medical treatment.
So I'm sure this kind of thing will appeal to the Chinese public as well. And these are areas in which there is plenty of scope for development in the bilateral relationship.
Q: You've visited the World Expo site. How do you think will Sri Lanka's participation help to raise the country's visibility to a largely Chinese audience?
A: We can raise our visibility by showcasing Sri Lankan products. Our gems and treasures are nicely exhibited. The tea from Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan cuisine, and there is a lot of woodwork, carpentry and so on, reflecting the local traditions.
We were told by people in the China Pavilion that up to now 35 million people have visited the Expo. That is almost twice the population of Sri Lanka, which is 20 million. So here is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our products to such a large number of people, who are clamoring for high quality goods and services. It is a unique opportunity not to be missed.
Q: The theme of the Sri Lanka Pavilion is "Tradition to Modernity." Could you explain that?
A: Several long civilizations are rooted in tradition. In the modern world, people are also searching for their roots. The appeal of mercenary values and consumerism seems to have gone beyond certain point. And people are beginning to feel insecure.
So there is a countervailing trend in search of one's own cultural roots. We need to advance economic development in a manner that remains in harmony with one's own roots, without conflict.
People are not happy just because they make money. There is more to life than just money and those of us who've been brought up and nurtured in a particular culture have certain things embedded in us. So the appeal of consumerism cannot be absolutely overwhelming.
That is why modernity also comes within the past. We'll move forward into the future, but we have to do it in a way that will not create a serious conflict in our own personality, the personality of an individual and the psyche of a nation.
Q: Shanghai and Colombo are friendly cities. What can be done to deepen this friendship apart from the direct flight service that's up and running for one month?
A: Let's look at the principal needs of Colombo. Colombo is a city that needs planning. Shanghai has come a long way. It has greenery but the amount of construction that is taking place is unbelievable. But you have done it in a planned way. Those are areas where Sri Lanka can gain from the experience of Shanghai. And Sri Lankan companies and Shanghai companies can come together to cooperate, import and export, that sort of thing. Those will be useful practices.
Q: What is your vision for the future of China-Sri Lanka relationship?
A: It is very promising because Sri Lanka feels very strongly that we could not have ever achieved the current progress without the support of China. China consistently helps us without wavering.
Now we feel China can be a partner in economic development because we have the opportunity to benefit from the natural advantages of both countries. As we do that, we would like China to fully participate and we have confidence that it will be fruitful.
Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Sri Lanka's minister of external affairs, spoke to Shanghai Daily reporter Ni Tao in Shanghai on August 10 about economic and political developments after the country's protracted civil war ended last year, and cementing ties with China. He spoke a day before meeting senior Chinese leaders in Beijing.
Q: What suggestions do you have for the cultural exchange between Sri Lanka and China and is there already a cultural exchange mechanism?
A: There is a lot in common culturally between the two countries, both of which have Buddhist tradition.
On my way here from the airport, I noticed that the driver had a Buddhist statue in his car. That often happens in Sri Lanka also. Moreover, the Sri Lankan dance forms are very popular in the Sri Lanka Expo Pavilion. There are a lot of people who seem interested in the indigenous dance forms displayed there.
That is why tourism matters. A lot of Chinese people would like to go to Sri Lanka. We have rainforests. And we have indigenous forms of medicine. The Oriental tradition in medicine is about getting away from strong drugs, antibiotics and offering forms of treatment that are close to nature, herbs, roots of trees and that kind of things.
That's very popular with Germans in particular. They keep coming to Sri Lanka, so often that there are some hotels that reserve whole sections for tourists who come to Sri Lanka year after year in search of Oriental forms of medical treatment.
So I'm sure this kind of thing will appeal to the Chinese public as well. And these are areas in which there is plenty of scope for development in the bilateral relationship.
Q: You've visited the World Expo site. How do you think will Sri Lanka's participation help to raise the country's visibility to a largely Chinese audience?
A: We can raise our visibility by showcasing Sri Lankan products. Our gems and treasures are nicely exhibited. The tea from Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan cuisine, and there is a lot of woodwork, carpentry and so on, reflecting the local traditions.
We were told by people in the China Pavilion that up to now 35 million people have visited the Expo. That is almost twice the population of Sri Lanka, which is 20 million. So here is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our products to such a large number of people, who are clamoring for high quality goods and services. It is a unique opportunity not to be missed.
Q: The theme of the Sri Lanka Pavilion is "Tradition to Modernity." Could you explain that?
A: Several long civilizations are rooted in tradition. In the modern world, people are also searching for their roots. The appeal of mercenary values and consumerism seems to have gone beyond certain point. And people are beginning to feel insecure.
So there is a countervailing trend in search of one's own cultural roots. We need to advance economic development in a manner that remains in harmony with one's own roots, without conflict.
People are not happy just because they make money. There is more to life than just money and those of us who've been brought up and nurtured in a particular culture have certain things embedded in us. So the appeal of consumerism cannot be absolutely overwhelming.
That is why modernity also comes within the past. We'll move forward into the future, but we have to do it in a way that will not create a serious conflict in our own personality, the personality of an individual and the psyche of a nation.
Q: Shanghai and Colombo are friendly cities. What can be done to deepen this friendship apart from the direct flight service that's up and running for one month?
A: Let's look at the principal needs of Colombo. Colombo is a city that needs planning. Shanghai has come a long way. It has greenery but the amount of construction that is taking place is unbelievable. But you have done it in a planned way. Those are areas where Sri Lanka can gain from the experience of Shanghai. And Sri Lankan companies and Shanghai companies can come together to cooperate, import and export, that sort of thing. Those will be useful practices.
Q: What is your vision for the future of China-Sri Lanka relationship?
A: It is very promising because Sri Lanka feels very strongly that we could not have ever achieved the current progress without the support of China. China consistently helps us without wavering.
Now we feel China can be a partner in economic development because we have the opportunity to benefit from the natural advantages of both countries. As we do that, we would like China to fully participate and we have confidence that it will be fruitful.
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