After spending more than six years in Sri Lanka, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong is preparing to leave the country with what he describes as lasting memories, strong friendships and renewed confidence in the future of China–Sri Lanka relations.
In a farewell message marking the end of his diplomatic mission, Ambassador Qi reflects on more than 2,000 days in Sri Lanka, describing the posting as the longest of his diplomatic career. From Colombo’s busy streets and the Cultural Triangle to the tea plantations of the hill country and the historic city of Galle, he recalls a journey shaped by both official engagements and personal experiences shared with communities across the island.
Looking back, the Ambassador says one of the defining features of his tenure was the resilience of the relationship between the two countries. He points to cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, the energy supply challenges and natural disasters as examples of how the two nations continued to work together during difficult periods.
He also highlights the progress made in bilateral cooperation following the visits of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya to China in 2025. According to the Ambassador, those engagements provided fresh momentum for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.
Economic cooperation features prominently in his reflections. He notes that projects such as Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port, the Central Expressway, healthcare initiatives and education projects have strengthened development ties between the two countries. He also describes China as one of Sri Lanka’s largest sources of foreign investment and development assistance while expressing Beijing’s intention to expand cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, renewable energy, modern agriculture, tourism and the marine economy.
Beyond economics, Ambassador Qi says the relationship has also grown through cultural and educational exchanges. He recalls travelling across every province, participating in community projects, supporting schools and attending religious and cultural events. Programmes such as the donation of school uniform fabric, Chinese language centres and cultural festivals have, he says, helped strengthen ties between the people of both countries.
Next year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka. Looking ahead, Ambassador Qi says China is ready to deepen cooperation through high-quality Belt and Road projects, expand market access for Sri Lankan products and strengthen investment and technology partnerships.
As he concludes his mission, the Ambassador expresses gratitude to the Government of Sri Lanka, political leaders, businesses, the Buddhist community, media, civil society and the people of Sri Lanka for their support during his six-year stay. While his diplomatic assignment is ending, he says his connection with Sri Lanka will continue long after his departure.
Last modified: July 24, 2026
