Speech made by Mr. Nalin Aponso – President –Sri Lanka China Young Journalists’ Forum at the inauguration of “Organization of South Asian Regional Friendship and Cooperation with China”- OSARFCC
Distinguish guests, Ladies and Gentlemen and dear friends
First and for most let me extend my heart-felt gratitude for offering me this opportunity on behalf of Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists’ Forum to express a word of good will at the inauguration of the establishing of Organization of South Asian Regional Friendship and Cooperation with China, the OSARFCC.
At this instance, I think I may add few words of introduction to our worthy cause to be here today. Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists’ Forum was established in the year of 2001 in the hope of implanting a dedicated process of bilateral understanding and mutual interest between Sri Lanka and China, towards greater diplomacy. Our objective was to create a stronger and reliable link through the partnership of both electronic and print media in Sri Lanka to enhance the bilateral friendship between the two friendly nations. The membership of Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists’ Forum was so strong and healthy in this regard that via the dedicated team work of nearly a decade, today; we have been able to effectively cater towards our ambition of building bridges between Sri Lanka and China through the implementation of a number of programmes of bilateral and mutual interest.
We have also performed a responsible task in coordinating, arranging and facilitating for the local journalists to tour in China to enhance and broaden their vision of rapid developing China. These tours enabled them to have a first hand experience not only into the economic development in China but also its assistance to enhance the socio- economic development processes in the region. In return, these experiences have immensely contributed the local journalists to effectively and positively counter in the times of negative, inaccurate and false propaganda launched mainly by the western forces against China and its socio- economic harmony.
In order to further our role in this regard, Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists Forum launched its Sinhalese publication ‘MAHAJANA CHEENAYA’ that means, ‘People’s China’, in the year 2008. This is a magazinal publication published once in every two months for the local readership, paving a better path for them to understand and get a positive picture of China and its development process.
www.lankachina.com, the web site we launched, in order to cater towards our worthy cause, throughout the past two years, parallel to our magazine, has been a first hand reliable source of information on the socio – economic development in China.
In October 2008, we were extended the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists’ Forum at the China-South Asian Friendship Organization Forum that was held in Beijing in China that took initiative to establish this project. Today, we are also pleased of having such an opportunity to represent in a task of such nature where South Asian countries will work hand in hand for such a fruitful implementation aiming solid integrity of the regional cooperation. Our expectation is to perform in closer collaboration to work with all these friendly nations to strengthen the friendship and bilateral relations with the People’s Republic of China.
As the country was reaching its success in the post war era, we are happy to announce that Sri Lanka China Young Journalists’ Forum successfully hosted the Sri Lanka’s first ever China Education Exhibition recently, in last may, at the BMICH in Colombo. This two day exhibition held under the patronage of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka and the China Scholarship Council and with the participation of representatives of nearly 40 renowned Universities in China was highly successful and received a top level commendation from the Chinese representation as one of best Chinese overseas education campaign in the region.
As a result of the amount of increasing requests for the membership of our forum following the success over last nine years, now we are compelled to bringing changes to our constitution in the near future to extend ample opportunities for the outstanding and professional journalists of the country to join hands with us, in our course, towards development of bilateral relations with China. In view of our ten year celebrations, sooner, the forum will be given recognition accordingly, not as Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists’ Forum but as Sri Lanka – China Journalists’ Forum paving more space for membership for more professional journalists in the country.
I also take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka for recognizing us as a reliable and confident body and for rendering all the assistance continually through the years to make all our efforts of a worthy cause, a success. Equally, we would never forget the initiatives made by Mr. Indrananda Abesekara who performed and is still performing, a dedicated contribution towards the bilateral integrity between China and Sri Lanka. As Sri Lankans, we are proud of the initiatives taken by him for the implementation and launching of a forum of this nature that would definitely assist to nurture and cultivate eternal bilateral relations between China and its friendly countries in the region.
At the same time we have immense pleasure, today, to see the main five Associations in the country that worked in close collaboration towards the bilateral interests between Sri Lanka and China have come under one roof to implement a new project with a regional collaboration to work towards this worthy cause. From today all friendly Associations in south Asian region who promote the interest of achieving healthy bilateral relations with china will worked under one roof towards a common goal.
As a Sri Lankan, today, I am proud to be here at the historic launch of the OSARFCC in Sri Lanka. I whole heartedly assure that Sri Lanka – China Young Journalists’ Forum will work in its fullest capacities to bring this implementation and all its future activities a success.
Thank you.
