The “Belt and Road Initiative”: High-end Forum was held online and offline on Dec 22, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations.

Hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Colombo, which was jointly built by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and Honghe University, the forum attracted more than 200 participants.

The “Belt and Road Initiative”: High-end Forum is held online and offline on Dec 22. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan, president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, delivers an opening speech. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan, president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, said this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. He said that inviting scholars from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to discuss practical cooperation is of great significance.

He underlined that BFSU will comply with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, carry forward the BRI spirit, promote global cooperation in foreign language education, and advocate the coexistence, interaction and sustainable development of languages.

Zhao Lingshan, vice-president and secretary-general of the CIEF, speaks at the “Belt and Road Initiative”: High-end Forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhao Lingshan, vice-president and secretary-general of the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF), noted that the four Confucius Institutes and classrooms in Sri Lanka have become important platforms for its people to learn Chinese and understand China.

The foundation is willing to join hands with partners from all walks of life in China and Sri Lanka to support the development of Confucius Institutes and contribute to the friendship between the two countries, while building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

H.D. Karunaratne, rector of the University of Columbo, delivers a keynote speech at the forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The forum included three sub-forums, inviting scholars from nearly 20 countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia to discuss cooperation in education, culture, the economy and trade under the framework of the BRI.

Lasantha Manawadu (third from left), dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Colombo, delivers a concluding speech at the closing ceremony of the forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Subsequent to the concluding remarks made by Lasantha Manawadu, dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Colombo, Ma Zhongwu, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the university, delivered a speech of thanks on behalf of the host and announced the closing of the forum.