Sarath Wijesinghe – former Ambassador to UAE and Israel

A FUTURE HUB FOR TRADEAND LOGISTICS IN THE INDIAN SUB CONTINENT”

It is now certain cemented and unstoppable that Sri Lanka Port City” is the future Hub of business activities and foundation of the success of new Sri Lanka in the new world and business order in par with world giants exploiting the geographical situation and historical/traditional links with China and other business leaders. Sri Lanka has many advantages over other counterparts of landfilling projects in the world with ideal strategic and geographical situation in the Indian ocean with full of future potential. Despite concerns it is our duty and mandate to complement the project in the best interest of Sri Lanka and the rest of the world including neighbors and beneficiaries in the orbit. It is with this in the agenda that the seminar on TOWARDS THE MAIN FINANCIAL HUB OF ASIA” special seminar is organized on 14th July at Light house Auditoriums” in order to plan out strategies in the implementation process of this mega project. Series of serious discussions and projects are due to launch in due course.

SECOND WORLD ECONOMIC GIENT”

China is the second world economic giant and an emerging economic superpower helping the members of the world family with no ulterior or any political considerations as many economic/political giants with geographical considerations/interests on small and neighboring nations. She has 1.379 billion with GDP 112.2 Trillian (in dollars) to feed compared to the immediate neighboring economic competitor – India with a population of 1.324 billion with GDP2264 million. China is historically and traditionally whose traders travelled worldwide as merchants and Cultural and Business Ambassadors” with no plans or schemes of control other states or extract wealth as the Western Colonial Masters” colonized other states exploitation the wealth/resources and disturbing the religious and cultural values of inhibitions. Belt Road initiative (BRI) is initiated and launched setting an international cooperation platform for the global public good following the traditional silk route for the 21st century with the rest of the world with initial and substantial funding from China with the vision of President XI Jinpig” as the leading personality on the multibillion operation in which five trillion global trade pass through South China Sea. China Sri Lanka relations runs back to centuries with religious cultural and close friendships uninterrupted

despite the asymmetrical size and the distance recorded in historic and religious documents by traders and Buddhist monks voyaged in hundreds exchanging knowledge and customs with close bonds based on religious principles and teachings of Lord Buddha. BRI is initiated for global public good forming an international cooperation initiative (ICP) platform. Sri Lanka is one of the first few countries to receive a loan of 7 billion with 1.8 million (all in dollars) in 2015 with close relations maintained between the two friendly nations. ICP initiative is the largest platform on economic growth connecting China, Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean at the cost of 900 billion for an era of global world order costing 8 Trillian for infrastructure benefiting 92 countries which is 65% of global population, will benefit these countries at a cost of 9500 billion. India is concerned about the Chinese presence in Dokalm” (Bhutan), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives Islands, Myanmar, and other small states in the Indian Ocean and on the silk belt maintaining economic bonds when the Chinese Leader has changed the constitution to be the life lime.

CONNECTIVITY THROUGH MODANIZED SILK ROUTE”

One of the main aims of the initiative is connectivity and cooperation between Euro Asian countries for the economic benefits of all targeting the entire world economy to be on the doorstep of Asia the booming and upcoming economic zone. Silk route will be transferred to a vibrant and mega economic route reviving the traditional silk route existed over thousands of years connecting the people’s countries and contentment’s economically socially and culturally. China is the second world economy trusted by the small nations as friendly with proven historically by no ulterior hidden political agendas except trade business and investment on long term plans. India with her regional supremacy mentality has antagonized many neighbors and small nations, being an important factor on the management of the foreign policy of small nation and more especially the neighbors, due to the cold war between the giants on the supremacy of the Indian Ocean coupled with economic and political competition. It is time for us to manage diplomatically political and ideological differences if any at all and use the friendly relations and Good Offices of the Sri Lankan professionals abundantly available in Sri Lank and worldwide for a coherent vibrant and Sri Lanka friendly Foreign and Trade Policy” initiative in political and economic fronts. It appears that there are constant disagreements on Indian and Chinese trade, foreign and policy on small states with detrimental effects on the small nations sandwiched in their trade and geopolitical war. India is demanding a better foothold in Sri Lanka due to Chinese effective presence economic corporation; the new Road/Belt initiative will irk and worry India further planning closely with the common enemy for supremacy on trade and geo political power. In any event connectivity will help the countries in the belt including India and the success of the initiative will be for the best interest of many counties on the belt and the region mostly benefiting Sri Lanka a close friend and ally of China historically.

HUB DIPLOMACY”

China has two way trade of 3.5 Trillian aiming to be a leader in the digital age having the digital giant Alibaba” based in her country making use of world languages while uplifting Chinese language, is planning HUB DIPLOMACY” encouraging trade HUB’s on the proposed Silk Road with the new venter one road one belt initiative. In the circumstances Hambantota-Magama Harbor is a WIN WIN” situation for centuries for China to have a foothold in the most strategically important point on the sea route in Asia – a Dubai, Singapore, Pakistan, are developed Hubs due to the strategic situation and manmade mega developments, out of which Hambantota-Magama” is the Hub Leader” being the center of the Indian Ocean and a main stopover in the traditional Silk road rejuvenated by modern Belt/Road initiate by China pumping trillions for development of 92 countries around the route. Dubai once has been a fish market with no oil (only 4% oil unlike rich Abu Dhabi) but strategic with sea and air routes which the visionary leader exploited. In any event the new Road/Belt initiative will be a boom on Hub Diplomacy and formation of new HUBS on the silk route with improved business for the surrounding nations as satellites of modern economic China initiative.

FOREIGN POLICY

Foreign Policy of a nation is a pre requisite for development and prosperity. It has direct and impact on commerce and trade relations among members of the world family and the world, in the set of rules outlining the behavior of a particular country. Sri Lanka has had excellent relations for thousands of years with the world especially China molded on religious and cultural Values and developed on the traditional silk route which is still continuing. Rev Faxian” came to Sri Lanka in 5th century with 200 monks and 256 Sri Lankan monks visited China in return and there were subsequent visits continuously. Sri Lanka supported China in 1950 at the United Nations when she needed our help and Rubber Rice Agreement is a main milestone on SL China relations. Though asymmetrical in size and economy the friendship was on equal grounds and both countries are friends in need helped each other in international and UN deliberations. Let this be an eye opener for India and the other countries close to the belt and in Broader Asia” to think Asian” and come forward with similar innovative products and initiatives as Asians. Contact 0777880166-0779824007-0772016641-775904821-and 0777706056 for further information on the seminar on 14/7/2018 at Light House Auditorium, 24 Horton Place Colombo 7 on TOWARDS THE MAIN FINANCIAL HIB OF ASIA PORT CITY 2018. (Reading Materials- China Sri Lanka relations SL Guardian on 15/ 8/2015,Economic Diplomacy 4/8/ 2015 Colombo Tribunal, Madam B’s Charm and Firm diplomacy with China 16/4/2015 Telegraph, Is Sri Lanka foreign policy effective and productive 5/4 2015 Telegraph/ all by the author who is the former Ambassador to UAE and Israel)