President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on behalf of the Government and people of Sri Lanka, has congratulated his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for securing a historic third term as the President.

The Sri Lankan president also acknowledged President Xi’s accomplished leadership, under which he said China has overcome challenges and made great progress.

He also expressed confidence that President Xi’s third term in office will undoubtedly open new vistas for China.

In his congratulatory message, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the centuries-long and exceptional bond of solidarity and mutual understanding between Sri Lanka and China.

While appreciating the steadfast assistance extended by China during the economic challenges facing Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe was, in particular, thankful for the financial assurances given by the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China, paving way for the final stage to secure a USD 2.9 billion bailout package under the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

The President also expressed confidence that during President Xi’s new term in Office, the existing robust cooperation between the two countries will continue to flourish for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries.

Further, the Sri Lankan leader conveyed his heartfelt well wishes for President Xi’s personal welfare, as well as the ongoing success and prosperity of the amicable citizens of the People’s Republic of China.

Xi Jinping on Friday (March 10) secured a precedent-breaking third five-year term as the president of the People’s Republic of China while tightening his grip as the country’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.

Nearly 3,000 members of China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), voted unanimously in the Great Hall of the People for Xi, 69, to be president in an election where there was no other candidate.

The voting lasted for about an hour and the electronic counting was completed in about 15 minutes.

The stage was set for another Xi term when he did away with presidential term limits in 2018. His power was already extended last October when he was reconfirmed for another five years as general secretary of the central committee of the ruling Communist Party.

-with input from agencies