Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, Friday afternoon for an official visit to the island country known as "a pearl in the Indian Ocean" to further consolidate and develop the two nations' friendship and cooperation.

Wen received a red-carpet welcome and a 19-gun salute. He also inspected the guard of honor at the Bandaranaike International Airport, 30 km northeast of the center of Colombo.

In a written statement distributed at the airport, Wen particularly expressed deep sympathy to those in the tsunami-stricken areas, and hoped they would rebuild their home at an early date.

Wen said China and Sri Lanka enjoy a time-honored friendship, and the bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas have been continuously deepening and the friendship between the two peoples growing with each passing day since the establishment of the bilateral ties.

"China-Sri Lanka friendship is not only in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also conducive to peace and development in Asia," said Wen.

During his stay, Wen is expected to exchanged views with president Kumaratunga and other leaders of Sri Lanka on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern. He will also inspect a tsunami-stricken fishing port, which is now under reconstruction by the Chinese side.

"I believe my current visit will help enhance friendship between our two peoples and consolidate and develop the traditional friendly relations and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka," Wen said.

China established diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka in 1957. In 1996, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga paid a state visit to China.

Sri Lanka is the third leg of Wen's four-nation South Asia tour which has taken him to Pakistan and Bangladesh. He will also visit India following his trip here.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2005)