Xi Jinping proposes trilateral cooperation with India: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka today said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed trilateral cooperation with India to address its security concerns in the Indian Ocean region amid increased Chinese involvement in mega projects in the island nation.

Cabinet minister Rauff Hakeem, who accompanied President Maithripapa Sirisena on a four-day visit to China last week, told reporters here that the Xi made the proposal for three-party talks with India and Sri Lanka when he met the new Lankan President.

Hakeem quoted Xi as saying that the Chinese government was "looking forward to developing trilateral talks between Colombo, Delhi and Beijing and if there are any issues to be discussed they are always prepared to sort these matters through a trilateral dialogue."

During the meeting, Xi and Sirisena had discussed trilateral cooperation between India, China and Sri Lanka mooted by Beijing in an apparent bid to address New Delhi's reservations over Maritime Silk Road (MSR) and its implications for India's security, especially after two Chinese submarines docked in Colombo harbour last year.

China proposed the trilateral cooperation after the fall of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government in January.