China’s newly appointed Ambassador to Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Ministry of Defence on Monday, in the envoy’s second engagement with the ministry this month.
The two discussed matters of mutual interest, with particular focus on strengthening long-standing relations and defence cooperation between the countries, according to the Ministry of Defence. The Defence Secretary expressed appreciation for what the ministry described as China’s continued support and cooperation.
The Defence Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, Senior Colonel Fu Xiao, also attended.
A name rendered two ways
The Ministry of Defence and NewsFirst both give the ambassador’s name as Wei Huaziang. Ada Derana, Daily Mirror, Hiru News, the government news portal news.lk and Daily FT have all rendered it Wei Huaxiang since his arrival, and this report follows that spelling. The two refer to the same envoy.
Second call in a week
The ambassador called on Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) on 15 September, a meeting the ministry recorded separately. He arrived in Colombo in August to take up the post, succeeding Qi Zhenhong, and described his appointment by President Xi Jinping as a “great honour and privilege” in a written statement issued on arrival.
Earlier this month he met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, where discussion centred on education cooperation, including a possible multi-year framework for school uniform supply and a review of a smart classroom programme.
Neither the ministry nor NewsFirst reported any specific agreement, programme or procurement arising from Monday’s meeting.
