He made this remark in his address at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka on Thursday (March 23) to mark the arrival of a delegation from the Yunnan province.

Sri Lanka’s ties to the Yunnan Province to the 15th Century AD when Admiral Zheng He, who was born in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, visited Sri Lanka as part of his voyages to South Asia and the Middle East.

Speaking further, State Minister Balasuriya observed that Sri Lanka’s commercial ties with China were important, and that China was the 8th largest export market for Sri Lanka.

He stated that in 2022 Sri Lanka’s exports to China amounted to US $ 253.11 Mn, with tea in bulk, activated carbon, apparel items, coco-peat and fibre pith becoming the dominant export items.

China was Sri Lanka’s number one import destination with total imports from China amounting to USD 3,523 million in 2022 and called for an increase in Sri Lanka’s exports to Yunnan.