China-Sri Lanka Readers Forum on Fifth Volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China Held in Colombo
Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial
The China-Sri Lanka Readers Forum on Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) was held on July 3 in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, bringing together nearly 300 participants including government officials, business leaders, scholars, and media representatives from China and Sri Lanka.
Hu Kaihong, deputy head of China’s Central Office of Cultural and Ethical Progress, said that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) presents Chinese President Xi Jinping’s in-depth thinking and strategic vision for Chinese modernization. It systematically records new explorations and practices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in uniting and leading the Chinese people to advance Chinese modernization, while elaborating on China’s vision and proposals for countries to jointly pursue modernization. The book serves as an authoritative reference for gaining a better understanding of Chinese modernization.
Jagath Wickramaratne, speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, remarked that the publication of the fifth volume provides valuable perspectives into China’s vision of governance, development, innovation and international cooperation. Beyond documenting China’s development experience, the book also demonstrates China’s deep reflections on safeguarding global peace and promoting shared prosperity. Sri Lanka is willing to continue expanding exchange and cooperation in all areas with China and promote new progress of the Sri Lanka-China strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship, said Wickramaratne.
Qi Zhenhong, Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka, noted that the book vividly documents China’s explorations and practices in pursuing modernization in the new era, and explains the CPC’s governance concepts, including putting the people first, comprehensively deepening reform, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground. It provides a valuable reference for many developing countries, allowing readers to better understand the courage and innovation of a century-old major political party in responding to profound global changes while staying true to its original aspirations and founding mission.
Madhura Senevirathna, deputy minister of education and higher education of Sri Lanka, said the fifth volume presents a clear architecture for Chinese modernization, covering all fields including economic development, scientific innovation, modern education, and cultural heritage preservation. Any country that seeks to achieve modernization without losing its historical roots can draw valuable insights from the book, he said.
Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), noted that the fifth volume showcases the distinctive features, practical pathways and remarkable achievements of Chinese modernization. It serves as a guide for China and Sri Lanka to deepen mutual learning in governance. He added that as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, the CICG will continue to cooperate with Sri Lankan institutions to promote cultural exchange and foster stronger ties between the two peoples.
Geeganage Weerasinghe, general secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, said the Communist Party of China’s achievements in developing new quality productive forces, promoting high-quality development, achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology and building an ecological civilization fully prove that the socialist system is capable of organizing modernization more efficiently and better balancing equity and efficiency.
Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial
During the event, Chinese representatives presented Sri Lankan counterparts with copies of the English edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) and the Sinhalese edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume II).
During the case-sharing session, Sanjeewa Wimalagunarathana, president of the China Aid Training Alumni in Sri Lanka and director of the Public Information Division at the Open University of Sri Lanka, and Ruwani Munasinha, general manager of the Investment Department of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Sri Lanka Division, shared their views on the book and their experiences in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial
During the discussion session, experts and scholars exchanged views on topics including governance in advancing modernization, building a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, green development, and poverty reduction in South Asia.
Indrananda Abeysekera, president of the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation, noted that the practical experience in poverty alleviation and livelihood improvement outlined in the book offers valuable insights for poverty reduction efforts in South Asian countries, particularly Sri Lanka.
Yang Yu, a scholar specializing in Xi Jinping Thought on Economy and editor-in-chief of China Development and Reform News, said that opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization, and that China and Sri Lanka have achieved fruitful cooperation with enormous potential for future collaboration.
Piyumani Panchali Ranasinghe, senior research fellow at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, remarked that the book offers a panoramic view of China’s development blueprint and provides valuable inspiration for Sri Lanka’s modernization efforts.
Lin Minwang, professor and vice dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, said the Belt and Road Initiative has provided a solid platform for cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, with a series of landmark projects significantly improving Sri Lanka’s infrastructure and creating large numbers of local jobs.
Ahmed Jawad, director of the Pathfinder Foundation, noted that various forms of cultural exchange have helped Sri Lanka gain a deeper understanding of China while strengthening the people-to-people bonds for building a community with a shared future.
Dai Peng, general manager of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of the Export-Import Bank of China, said that the governance wisdom embodied in the book offers valuable insights into self-driven development while creating greater opportunities for cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.
Udaya Mohan Devadas, professor at the University of Kelaniya, said China’s philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” resonates strongly with Sri Lanka’s development strategy, while the theory and practice of Chinese modernization presented in the new volume provide useful references for Sri Lanka’s pursuit of sustainable development.
Tian Chunxiu, deputy director of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and deputy director of the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy under China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said that the vision of building a “Beautiful China” expounded in the book offers valuable wisdom and practical solutions for countries around the world, particularly developing nations, as they explore green pathways to modernization.
Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial
Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial
The event was hosted by China’s State Council Information Office, CICG, and the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, and organized by Foreign Languages Press (FLP) and the CICG Center for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications). Ding Zhitao, editor-in-chief of FLP, and Lin Xihe, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation of CICG, moderated the opening session and discussion session, respectively.