COLOMBO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The official visit to Sri Lanka of Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, which will start today, would have enormous impact on bilateral relations between China and Sri Lanka, analysts here said.
Economist Sirimal Abeyratne, who is also the head of the Economics Department in the University of Colombo, said he is upbeat on the benefits of the visit to Sri Lanka not just in political but more on economic cooperation.
Abeyratne said that the Sri Lankan government should work for the expansion of trade between the two countries and not just depend on loans in order to make the economic growth of the country sustainable.
According to the Chinese embassy here, during Wu's visit more than 10 agreements would be signed by the two countries.
Wu's trip is the most high profile visit to Sri Lanka of a Chinese official since the island-nation emerged victorious three years ago from a bloody civil war with the separatist Tamil Tiger guerrillas.
Dr. Abeyratne pointed out that Sri Lanka's exports to China correspond to a measly 1 percent of the island's total trade.
"Trade between the two countries is still at an early stage but is very important given the size and depth of China's market. Relations need to expand beyond investment and loans. If it does so then it would be enormously beneficial for Sri Lanka," he noted.
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