Not a debt trap, but a non-development trap, says the Chinese Ambassador

"What Sri Lanka needs is not only debt restructuring at this moment but, more importantly, economic restructuring for the future."

The Chinese envoy was speaking at a discussion on recent high-level visits and their Indian Ocean aspects held in Colombo on Tuesday.

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, French Ambassador in Colombo Jean-Francois Pactet, and Japanese Ambassador in Colombo Mizukoshi Hideaki participated in the discussion. Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardene was the moderator.

Ambassador Zhenhong said that China has always been the strongest partner for Sri Lanka to achieve its sustainable development, move out of the "non-development trap," safeguard its sovereignty, independence, and national dignity, and enhance its global and international influence.