Beijing, Feb 25: The Chinese leadership will reassure Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse that Beijing firmly backs the island nation's fight against terrorism and efforts to maintain territorial integrity, diplomatic sources said here today.

"China will express full support for Sri Lankan government's efforts for the unity, territorial integrity and national reconciliation," diplomats said ahead of Rajapakse's state visit to China from February 26 to March 4.

Chinese President Hu Jintao will hold talks with Rajapakse and the two leaders will officiate events marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka here.

Premier Wen Jiabao and other state leaders are expected to meet with Rajapakse, whose visit comes amid an escalation in fighting between Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tigers and the near collapse of the Norwegian peace process.

Prior to Rajapakse's visit, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona have held consultations with senior Chinese Foreign Ministry officials here and briefed them about the latest regional situation as well as the current status of the Norwegian peace process and the renewed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

On the eve of his visit, Rajapakse said that he expected continued Chinese support for his government in tackling LTTE.

The Sri Lankan President said he "appreciated the support given by China so far in solving the island country's separatist issue and looked forward to such assistance from China continuing in the future."

Rajapakse is expected to reiterate Sri Lanka's position that there is but one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.

The issue of terrorism is expected to figure prominently in a joint statement which the two sides may issue during the visit, diplomatic sources said.

During his recent visit to Beijing, Kohona had said that peace truce brokered by Norway was not dead but asserted that the Sri Lankan government would not treat LTTE with "kid-gloves" if they indulged in terrorism.

"I would simply say that the Norwegian peace process is not dead and that we hope that the Norwegian facilitators will continue to play a critical role in bringing the Tamil Tigers to the negotiating table," Kohona, who also heads the government's peace secretariat in charge of negotiations with the LTTE, said.

Kohona said the Sri Lankan President would likely announce China's participation in building the Puttalam coal-powered power plant in Sri Lanka worth up to 500 million US dollars, which could address the severe power shortage faced by the country.

China could also take a major role in a planned USD 1 billion integrated harbour project in Hambantota on Sri Lanka's southern coast that would have an oil refinery, container port, airport and other facilities.

China has built the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, the Supreme Court complex in Colombo apart from assisting in many infrastructure development projects.

During his visit, the Sri Lankan President will gift a baby elephant named 'Migara' to the Chinese.

Courtesy By: www.zeenews.com

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