China would work with Sri Lanka to promote the comprehensive and cooperative partnership to a new height, said Vice Premier Li Keqiang here on Friday.

"We attach great importance to the traditional friendship with Sri Lanka," Li told visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

Hailing the China-Sri Lanka good-neighborly friendship, Li said the two nations had enjoyed smooth development of cooperation since forging diplomatic ties in 1957.

"The China-Sri Lanka relationship set a good example for the friendly ties between countries with different social systems," Linoted.

Bogollagama was here on an official visit from July 1 to 5 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Yang held talks with Bogollagama earlier Friday.

"China stands ready to expand cooperation with Sri Lanka, so as to consolidate the traditional bilateral friendship and breath new life into the cooperative relationship," Yang said.

Bogollagama spoke highly of the "close and productive" relations between the two nations, and applauded China's support for its struggle to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Bogollagama reiterated Sri Lanka's adherence to the one-China policy and would push bilateral relations forward.

Bogollagama is to visit Chengdu, capital of southwestern province of Sichuan, during his visit.

Source: Xinhua