China Aims To Sign Trade Agreement With Sri Lanka

China aims to have discussions with Sri Lanka next year on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in a bid to build stronger trade and investment ties, according to an article posted on the Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s website .

According to the article, China’s Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said China will also step up negotiations next year on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the free trade agreement between China, South Korea and Japan.

China’s Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang, cited in the article, said the Belt and Road Initiative aims to improve regional connectivity between Asia, Europe and Africa and involves big-ticket infrastructure projects, adding that the initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and covers about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions.