On March 29, Feng Fei, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, met in Haikou with Wasantha Samarasinghe, Central Committee Member of JVP Sri Lanka and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, along with his delegation.

On behalf of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and the People’s Government of Hainan Province, Feng extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He highlighted the longstanding China–Sri Lanka friendship, which, under the strategic leadership of two heads of state, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between different countries. Hainan and Sri Lanka have engaged in regular high-level exchanges and close interactions, leading to steady progress and successful outcomes in economic and trade cooperation.

He noted that the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) successfully launched island-wide special customs operations on December 18 last year, marking an important milestone in China’s efforts to deepen high-level opening up and foster an open global economy. Hainan continues to focus on its strategic objectives, aiming to establish a modernized industrial system with unique strengths, promote high-quality growth of the national ecological civilization pilot zone, and develop the FTP into a leading gateway for China’s opening up in the new era.

Hainan is committed to working with Sri Lanka to harness its respective resource advantages and industrial strengths, aiming to deepen cooperation in areas such as party-to-party exchanges, modern agriculture, economy and trade, and cultural exchanges. This effort will contribute to building a China–Sri Lanka community with a shared future in the new era.

Wasantha Samarasinghe praised Hainan’s progress in economic and social development. He noted that the visit offered a valuable chance for learning, exchanges, and strengthening friendship. The delegation intends to leverage Hainan’s experience in promoting high-quality growth and aims to foster more targeted and practical cooperation between Sri Lanka and Hainan in different areas, all to benefit the people on both sides.

Vice Governor of Hainan Province Yang Guoqiang, senior JVP leader and Colombo District Secretary Dhammika Rohan, Member of Parliament, and Puttalam District Secretary Gayan Janaka, among others, attended the meeting.