Memorandum for Co-operation between the Chinese People’s Association for Peace & Disarmament (CPAPD) and the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) was signed at a ceremony held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in the morning 25th of July 2012. The Memorandum was signed by Ms. Chen Huaifan, Deputy Secretary General of CPAPD and Luxman Siriwardena, Executive Director on behalf of the PF. The event was witnessed by Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, Wu Jianghao, Ambassador for China in Sri Lanka, Bernard Goonetilleke – Chairman, Pathfinder Foundation, M.D.D. Peiris – Deputy Chairperson, MMBL, and Nihal Rodrigo, former Ambassador to China, and Ms. Ameera Arooz – Project Manager, Pathfinder Foundation.
“The objective of cooperation between the two institutions is to develop and implement a programme of action that would strengthen economic, cultural and educational ties between the two countries. Activities so undertaken will be complementary to the government level programmes that are already in place. The cooperation programme would see commissioning of policy studies, holding of public seminars in the two countries and facilitating investment and trade promotion missions. Exchange programmes for young entrepreneurs as well as academic and cultural institution will be given priority under the envisaged programme,” a statement released by PF earlier this week said.
The visiting delegation paid a courtesy call on the Honourable D.M. Jayarathne Prime Minister prior to the signing of the Memorandum, during which the Prime Minister highlighted the long standing relations between China and Sri Lanka and expressed his satisfaction that the linkup between PF and CPAPD would contribute to development of people to people relations between the two countries. The visiting delegation also met with Professor Indrakeerthi Siriweera, Director of Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies and Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council for discussions.
“The governments of China and Sri Lanka have had warm and cordial relations for over six decades and the cooperation between the two countries has had many dimensions. To further strengthen this relationship, especially people to people relations, the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding of Cooperation in areas such as policy studies, tourism, investment and trade, technology transfer and educational and cultural exchange,” the PF said.
The four member Chinese delegation was led by Ms. Chen Huaifan, Deputy Secretary General of the CPAPD. Both the PF and the CPAPD will develop a work programme for implementation over the next few years.
