China will continue to help Sri Lanka to the best of its ability to promote Sri Lanka’s economic and social development as well as living standards, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry on Sunday in Beijing.

Minister Sabry is on a state visit to China from Saturday to Friday.

Qin said China and Sri Lanka have set a model of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between a major country and a smaller one, wishing the two sides to make more new achievements under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Sabry said Sri Lanka cherished the longstanding selfless assistance given by the Chinese government and Chinese people in Sri Lanka’s national independence and economic development, expressing gratitude for China’s support in helping Sri Lanka deal with the debt problem and overcome temporary problems.