On 14 September, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming had an online meeting with Saroja Sirisena, new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK.

Ambassador Liu extended welcome to the new High Commissioner to the UK, saying that China and Sri Lanka are strategic partners with sincere mutual assistance and friendship for generations. The friendship and mutual trust between the two countries have stood the test of time and been further strengthened in their joint fight against COVID-19. Last May, President Xi Jinping and President Gotabaya had a telephone conversation, through which they reached important consensus on promoting the strategic partnership and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. The two countries have been deepening their practical cooperation in areas such as joint development under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), business, trade and investment, and resumption of production and economic recovery. They have also maintained close collaboration and mutual support in international multilateral affairs. Ambassador Liu noted that the two missions in the UK could strengthen exchanges and work together to promote China-Sri Lanka relationship.

High Commissioner Sirisena agreed with Ambassador Liu on the description of the relationship between the two countries, saying that Sri Lanka and China have enjoyed a long and profound friendship and achieved positive results in BRI cooperation and other fields. She extended her thanks to China for the precious and firm support to Sri Lanka in international affairs. She said Sri Lanka is ready to step up exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields, and hoped that the two sides would strengthen communication and make contribution to the development of Sri Lanka-China relationship.

The two sides also exchanged views the foreign policy issues and third-market cooperation.