This is his first visit as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to the People's Republic of China, since the Good Governance Government of President Maithripala Sirisena was formed in January last year.
The Prime Minister will hold high level discussions with Chinese
President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of The National People's Congress, Zhang Dejiang.
These discussions are expected to advance relations between the two countries to a new level.
The visit of the Prime Minister to the People's Republic of China comes as an extension of the goodwill visit made by President Sirisena to China last year.
Undertaken to strengthen relations between China and Sri Lanka, this visit is expected to promote co-operation mechanisms between the two countries in the spheres of economic affairs, investment and technology.
It is also expected to bolster co-operation in science, sports, tourism development, financial services and water resources management along with initiation of mobile clinics for kidney patients. During this visit, it is expected that many multi-lateral agreements will be entered into between the two countries.
In a gesture that will renew the strong and historic ties between the United National Party and the Chinese Communist Party, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will also hold talks with the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao.
In Sri Lanka, Prime Minister's senior advisor R. Paskaralingam along with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang have been handling all key matters concerning the Prime Minister's visit.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry together with Foreign Ministry Additional Secretary Ranjith Uyangoda and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku are coordinating arrangements in China.
During this visit, a group of business representatives from Sri Lanka will hold discussions with leading Chinese entrepreneurs to enhance Chinese investments in Sri Lanka.
Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe will accompany the Prime Minister. The Prime Ministerial entourage will include Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Special Projects Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauf Hakeem, Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Athaudahetti, UNP's Co-ordinator for International Relations Mahinda Haradasa and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Sandra Perera.
