March 28, 2024.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena with several dignitaries at BOAO Forum for Asia Annual Conference.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunawardena, addressed the BOAO Forum for Asia Annual Conference held in Hainan, China. During his speech, he urged Asian countries to join forces and strive towards building an Asia free from poverty, emphasizing the need for equitable prosperity. PM Gunawardena lauded China’s impressive success in lifting millions of citizens out of poverty with President Xi Jinping’s able leadership and expressed his belief that this could serve as a blueprint for other nations grappling with poverty.
The Prime Minister also called for innovative measures to ensure agricultural growth and food security, as he believes that this will not only eradicate poverty but also promote social harmony and peace. Additionally, he stressed the importance of harnessing renewable energy resources to achieve sustainable development.
PM Gunawardena also highlighted Sri Lanka’s expanding ports, including Colombo Port, Hambantota Port, and Colombo Port City, which he believes will be instrumental in transforming the country into a major financial hub and promoting the rapid progress of not just Sri Lanka, but the entire region.
In his address to the conference, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his strong leadership and dedication to China’s economic growth, which he believes benefits not only China but the entire world. He emphasized the need for countries to work together to address issues related to renewable energy, climate change, and the blue economy, which are critical areas for Asian countries.
PM Gunawardena also cited China’s successful experiment with ‘miracle rice,’ which increased production and provided higher levels of income for farmers while ensuring food security. He believes this experiment could serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges.
The Prime Minister also praised the BOAO conference for its commitment to renewable energy investment, which he believes holds great promise for the future. He pledged Sri Lanka’s support in working together with other countries to ensure the free flow of trade across the maritime lanes of the Indian Ocean.
Several dignitaries attended the conference, including the President of the National People’s Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhao Leiji, the President of Kazakhstan, the President of Nauru, and Ban Ki Moon, the President of the Global Green Growth Institute and former United Nations Secretary-General.
