New Sri Lankan FM hails China's Belt and Road

Colombo, June 20 (IANS) Newly appointed Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake on Tuesday hailed China's Belt and Road Initiative and said it would be advantageous for the island nation.

In an interview, Karunanayake said the Silk Road had been in existence for over 3,000 years and Sri Lanka was definitely going to be part of this ambitious project, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Sri Lanka is in a pivotal point," Karunanayake said, adding that with its strong geographical location in the Indian Ocean, the nation aimed to attract more investment and trade.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is aimed at building an infrastructure and trade network that spans the globe, linking Asia with Europe and Africa, along the ancient Silk Road trading routes.