Since the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the world situation has not been as calm as before. Sri Lanka, an island nation from the Indian Ocean, has always been in a state of peaceful and friendly diplomacy with China. At the beginning of 24, Sri Lanka and China had friendly exchanges again, and its leader Gunawardena took a flight to Beijing.
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China has often been generous to countries in need. Sri Lanka already owes China a full $3.4 billion. Previously, Chinese financial institutions and the Sri Lankan side had been actively negotiating, and now this consultation has also become an important process of the visit to China.
After a series of exchanges, we also learned about Sri Lanka's plight, in addition to the $3.4 billion owed to us, there is also a debt from Japan. Out of humanitarian interest, we are ready to assist Sri Lanka in resolving its debt problem. In the end, the Chinese side decided to extend the loan period to give Sri Lanka as much time as possible, and at the same time, we also said that the interest generated by the loan could be reduced.
Such a solution is arguably the greatest forgiveness for Sri Lanka and demonstrates our goodwill as a promoter of peace and development.
It was such a friendly act, but in exchange for Sri Lanka's treachery. Recently, Sri Lanka announced that it would hand over the operation of the international airport, which will be built with Chinese funds, to Russia and its neighbor India. One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and our 200 million project funds have not been returned, and now the airport has become someone else's.
The airport, which is called Matala Rajapaksa, is a large airport that is mainly used for international aviation business, and it occupies a large area and has all kinds of facilities, after all, it has cost more than 200 million US dollars. The airport was previously built to generate revenue for Sri Lanka, and the airport is large enough to support millions of people.
But the truth is not as they think, it is called an airport without people. The reason for this was not a problem with construction, but a problem with the earliest decisions made by the Sri Lankan side. Airport location and international route planning are riddled with loopholes.
Business is so bleak that only a dozen people enter and leave this huge international airport in a day, and the staff at the airport are all larger than this number, let alone generate income, they are completely losing money, and they are still in debt, and they are trying to solve it.
Before the construction, Sri Lanka believed that the construction of an international airport was a profitable business, driving economic development and income generation, and also increasing jobs.
However, they had no money, so they invited international tenders to find someone to contract the project, and they had to bring their own money and pay it back when they had the income. It stands to reason that many people will want to contract such a big project, but if they have to bring their own money, no one can hold up such a large debt, and in the end it is the Chinese company that contracts the project, even if there are other companies, they cannot compete with experienced Chinese companies.
In this way, the Chinese side took over the project and delivered the results smoothly. Unexpectedly, it didn't take long for the management to become Indian.
In fact, this is out of Sri Lanka's own interests, India also participated in the bidding, but it was not successful, because the airport location is facing an important port in India, and now Sri Lanka can not make money, India is willing to pay to win the airport operation right, which can be said to be a good thing for Sri Lanka, which can be regarded as a little loss.
In fact, in addition to being used for India's own transportation, after China announced the contract, there were rumors that China was planting military surveillance in Sri Lanka, so India's move was more or less an attempt to counter surveillance China. Is it possible for the Indian side to operate the airport with all its might?
Previously, India had some minor frictions with China, and Sri Lanka could be said to have not wanted to offend for two years. China has always maintained a peaceful and friendly attitude in the international community, and India, fearing that its position in the Indian Ocean will be shaken, has made previous moves.