President Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday seemed to underestimate the trade agreement in South Asia, said there was “too much politics” and that the country needed to expand its partnership with “whoever we wanted”.
“Unfortunately, I do not think there will be an integration of trade abroad in the South Asian region. No, there must be a bilateral agreement with anyone we want,” he said, speaking at a conference about rebuilding the economy of the island’s country that was staggered below the worst crisis.
“There are too many politics involved in a regional trade agreement in South Asia. We can rule out it. We can have integration in dancing, cooking, but of course, you will not have an integration as far as the economy is concerned,” Wickremesinghe said.
Although he did not mention the name India, the statement could trigger concerns in New Delhi. The main engine of South Asia’s involvement, India has long tried to keep Sri Lanka away from China, in an effort that came to the head this week in the middle of a visit planned by the “eye -mata” ship to the port in the country.
Sources -Indian government sources said the progress of the ship was being monitored. India has made it clear to track “whatever affects the security and interests of the Indian economy and take all the steps needed to protect them”.
Apart from assistance worth 5 billion dollars to a crisis country, India has several trade agreements with Sri Lanka.
Two days ago, met with Foreign Minister Sri Lanka who was appointed by Ali Sabry, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar reiterated Indian commitment as “reliable friends and reliable partners, for economic recovery and welfare” island state.
Overcoming Crisis and Piles of Debt – Most owners to China – at the conference, Mr. Wickremesinghe said, “First of the foreign debt and then if you see official debt, whether we are trapped in the geopolitics of the region in the office Asia? Geopolitics, that’s the problem. “
Pitching is tighter trade relations with Southeast Asian countries, Indo-Pacific, European and US countries, he also refers to the Hambantota Sri Lanka Port which is managed by China where Chinese ships will be visited.
“If you see the Indian, Bangladesh and Pakistan economy, logistics can have a big role to play. Here in Colombo in Hambantota and Trincomalee, this is how we use our strategic position,” said President Sri Lanka.
The AFP news agency reported on Saturday that Sri Lanka had asked China to postpone visits with the Yuan Wang 5 ship without time limit, which could be used for supervision, and tracking intercontinental and satellite ballistic missiles, to Hambantota.