From the Rubber-Rice Pact to the Belt and Road: Sri Lanka PM outlines roadmap for deeper China ties #CGTN

In CMG’s Leaders Talk, host He Yanke sits down with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya to explore the evolution of China–Sri Lanka relations—from the landmark 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation today.

Located at the heart of the Indian Ocean’s shipping routes, Sri Lanka has long leveraged its strategic position and rich agricultural resources, such as tea, rubber, coconut and rice. Building on a time-tested friendship, the prime minister highlights key areas for future collaboration, including infrastructure, port development, modern agriculture, fisheries, marine conservation and tourism, laying out a forward-looking agenda for mutually beneficial cooperation.