Sri Lanka president leaves Beijing for E. China visit

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-01-2007 13:41

BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse left here on Thursday for Shanghai, continuing his one-week visit to China.

During his stay in Beijing, Rajapakse held talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, and the countries signed eight agreements on economic and cultural cooperation.

Rajapakse also met with Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao separately.

As the year 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic ties, Rajapakse attended a celebration banquet together with Chinese top advisor Jia Qinglin.

During his visit, Rajapakse has presented three gifts to China: two corneas to be used for transplants in China, a replica of a Buddha statue, and a five-year old male elephant.

Besides Beijing and Shanghai, Rajapakse will also visit Guangzhou, capital city of the booming Guangdong Province in south China, and Hubei province in central China.

Rajapakse is here at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Editor:Du Xiaodan