Ambassador Qi Zhenhong Highlights China-Sri Lanka Cultural Ties at Sinologists Conference in Colombo
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong underscored the deep-rooted cultural ties and growing academic cooperation between China and South Asia during the opening ceremony of the 2nd South Asian Sinologists Conference and Civilization Dialogue held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
The event, co-hosted by the Sri Lanka-China Association, the World Center for Sinology, and the University of Kelaniya, brought together prominent Sinologists, university leaders, and scholars from across the region. It aimed to promote dialogue between Chinese and South Asian civilizations and foster regional collaboration in cultural and academic spheres.
In his remarks, Ambassador Qi emphasized the importance of mutual learning among civilizations, highlighting the role of dialogue in promoting peace, understanding, and shared prosperity. He referred to the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and celebrated the recent UN resolution—co-sponsored by China, Sri Lanka, and 81 other countries—establishing June 10 as the “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.”
“This event is a continuation of that spirit,” Qi said, noting Sri Lankan scholars’ translation of The Analects of Confucius into Sinhala and China’s efforts to restore Sri Lanka’s Legend of Mayura Sandesaya as examples of rich bilateral cultural exchange.
Ambassador Qi also highlighted three longstanding commitments in China-Sri Lanka relations: peaceful engagement, solidarity through adversity, and innovative mutual learning. He recalled historical milestones such as the arrival of Sri Lankan bhikkhunis in China in the 5th century and the 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact, calling them foundational elements of modern China-Sri Lanka friendship.
The Ambassador announced two significant outcomes of the conference: the establishment of the Sri Lanka Council of Sinologists under the World Center for Sinology to support regional Sinology research, and the launch of a new publication, The Debate on the Sri Lanka-China Rubber Rice Agreement, which provides historical insights into bilateral cooperation.
He also pointed to the growth of Chinese language education in Sri Lanka, the presence of Confucius Institutes, and ongoing archaeological collaborations—such as the restoration of Anuradhapura and the ancestral home of Prince Kotte’s descendants in China—as further examples of the flourishing cultural ties.
Referring to the recent visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to China, Qi noted that the inclusion of “civilization mutual learning” in the official joint statement signifies a shared political will to strengthen cultural diplomacy.
Concluding his speech, Qi expressed hope that the event would “grow a forest of wisdom in the shared soil of human civilization” and contribute to building a stronger China-South Asia Community with a Shared Future.
The event also featured remarks by International Confucian Association President Sun Chunlan and Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Chandana Abeyarathna.
