Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Sri Lanka's new leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday and expressed his hope for strengthening cooperation between the two countries under his Belt and Road infrastructure initiative (BRI). The new Sri Lankan leader has vowed to restore public faith in politics as the country works to recover from an economic collapse partly attributed to Chinese mega-projects under the BRI. Xi stated his commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation and creating more benefits for the people of both countries through the BRI.
Sri Lanka and China: A Complex Relationship Amidst Economic Turmoil and Belt and Road Initiative
Background
Sri Lanka and China have maintained a long-standing relationship, with China being a major lender and investor in the island nation. However, this relationship has recently come under scrutiny due to Sri Lanka's economic crisis, which has been partly attributed to Chinese mega-projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The BRI, launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is a massive infrastructure and trade initiative that seeks to connect China with other countries through roads, railways, ports, and other projects. Sri Lanka has been a key participant in the BRI, with China investing heavily in infrastructure projects such as the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port City.
Recent Developments
In May 2022, Sri Lanka faced its worst economic crisis in decades, with severe shortages of fuel, food, and medicine. The crisis triggered widespread protests and ultimately led to the resignation of the then-President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
In the aftermath of the crisis, a new government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe took office. Wickremesinghe has vowed to restore public faith in politics and to reform the economy. He has also expressed a desire to strengthen ties with China while ensuring that future infrastructure projects are sustainable and beneficial for Sri Lanka.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
The BRI is a Chinese-led infrastructure and trade initiative that seeks to connect China with other countries through roads, railways, ports, and other projects.
2. What is Sri Lanka's role in the BRI?
Sri Lanka has been a key participant in the BRI, with China investing heavily in infrastructure projects such as the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port City.
3. What caused Sri Lanka's economic crisis?
The economic crisis was caused by a combination of factors, including rising inflation, a shortage of foreign currency reserves, and a heavy debt burden. The BRI projects have been criticized for contributing to the crisis, as they have led to increased debt and questionable economic returns.
4. What is the new government's stance on the BRI?
The new government has stated that it is committed to strengthening ties with China while ensuring that future infrastructure projects are sustainable and beneficial for Sri Lanka.
5. What is the future of Sri Lanka-China relations?
The future of Sri Lanka-China relations remains uncertain. The two countries have a long-standing relationship, but the BRI and Sri Lanka's economic crisis have strained ties. The new government's ability to navigate these challenges will shape the relationship in the coming years.
In a historic meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, US President Joe Biden expressed his government's "full support" to Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. This meeting is being seen as a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the two countries and is the first time a US President has met a head of the Bangladesh government on the sidelines of UNGA. Yunus highlighted the sacrifices made by students for the country's development and stressed the need for US cooperation in rebuilding Bangladesh. This meeting comes after a senior American diplomat reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting economic growth in Bangladesh.
US President Joe Biden offered his country's full support to Muhammad Yunus-led interim government during a rare meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. This marks the first time in history that the head of the Bangladesh government has met with a US president at UNGA. Yunus also met with other world leaders, including Canada's Justin Trudeau, to discuss ways to strengthen ties and build institutions. These meetings come after Yunus' election as head of the interim government, following widespread protests against the previous government.
The U.S. Coast Guard has released new video and images of the wreckage of the Titan submersible, which tragically imploded and killed all five people on board during a trip to view the Titanic's wreckage in 2023. The hearing will focus on understanding the cause of the implosion and preventing similar incidents in the future. Former OceanGate employees have testified that their safety concerns were ignored and communication broke down between the submersible and support ship before the disaster occurred.
A false image circulating on social media falsely claims that Muslim individuals are the top management of the Tamil Nadu-based company supplying ghee to the Tirupati Balaji temple. However, it has been confirmed that the company in the image is A.R. Foods (Pvt) Limited, a spice company based in Pakistan, and not the actual ghee supplier, A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited. The latter, which has been accused of supplying adulterated ghee, is a dairy company in India. The TTD has blacklisted the company and criminal proceedings may follow.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful speech at the UN General Assembly's "Summit of the Future" in New York, highlighting the need for collective global action and reform in top institutions. Amid threats like terrorism and new fields of conflict, Modi emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges through united efforts. His call for peace and reform comes after the adoption of the "Pact for the Future" at the UN, which faced objections from a group of seven nations, led by Russia. Modi's speech, focused on global peace and development, urged for unbiased and factual reporting of news, free from any ideologies or beliefs.
The Little Amal puppet, depicting a 10-year-old Syrian refugee, arrived in Hull as part of its global tour to raise awareness of the struggles of child refugees. The visit to Pearson Park, as part of the Yorkshire Integration Festival, comes just weeks after a targeted attack on a hotel housing refugees. Hull City Council leader Mike Ross sees the puppet's visit as a positive message of hope and compassion, reminding the city of its welcoming and friendly nature. Director of the Little Amal project, Tracey Seaward, hopes the visit will bring attention to the issue and dispel negative views on refugees.
In his address at the UN Summit of the Future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of a collective approach for the success of humanity. He also stressed on the need for global reforms and reiterated India's willingness to share its digital public infrastructure with the world. The PM further highlighted the strong and dynamic partnership between India and the US, as expressed during his bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden and the Quad leaders' summit. The summit, which serves as a blueprint for addressing global challenges, was initiated by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres a year ago.
The ongoing war between Israel and militant groups in the region has escalated to new heights, with Israel launching a series of deadly air strikes on Lebanon that killed 274 people, including 21 children. The strikes were a retaliation for an attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Israel, drawing Iran-backed groups into the violence. While world powers urge for peace, the number of casualties and destruction continues to rise in both Israel and Lebanon.
As tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate, the southern region of Lebanon witnessed its most violent day yet in nearly a year of conflict. The Israeli military carried out targeted airstrikes in various areas of Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 182 people and sparking chaos in the country. Amidst the mounting violence, both sides have expressed their determination to continue until their respective goals are achieved, paving the way for a potentially long and deadly conflict.