Sri Lanka requested China to postpone the "Yuanwang No. 5" scientific research ship stop plan?Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On August 8, 2022, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over a regular press conference

"Hindu" reporter: It is reported that the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka met with President Wickerhamaxin on Saturday. Earlier, the Sri Lanka requested that China will postpone the "Yuanwang No. 5" scientific research ship stop plan. Can you confirm that Sri Lanka made the request? What are the response to this?

Wang Wenbin: I noticed the relevant reports, and I would like to emphasize two points. First, Sri Lanka is the Indian Ocean Transportation Hub. Scientific examination ships, including China, have stopped relying on the port of Sri Lanka. China has been legally exercising the freedom of Gonghai, and fully respects the jurisdiction of the coastal countries' scientific examination activities in its jurisdiction. Second, Sri Lanka is a sovereign state and has the right to develop relations with other countries according to its own development interests. Normal cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is an independent choice of the two countries, which is in line with the common interests of both parties and does not target third parties. It is unreasonable to apply the presses on the grounds of so -called "security concerns". In the case of economic and political difficulties in Sri Lanka, rough interference in Normal foreign exchanges and cooperation is to take advantage of the danger of people, and it violates the basic criteria for international morality and international relations. China urges relevant parties to treat the Chinese marine scientific research activities rationally and stop interference in normal communication and cooperation in China.

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