Colombo
French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions on bilateral cooperation and on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region with Sri Lankan delegation headed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, according to statements by both sides on Saturday.
The visit was the first-ever visit by a French President to Sri Lanka.
During the historic visit, Wickremesinghe and Macron held friendly and productive bilateral discussions which lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes, the Sri Lankan President’s office said.
The main objective of the visit was to enhance and elevate the existing relations between Sri Lanka and France, especially considering the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties being celebrated this year, according to the statement.
As the fourth-largest creditor to Sri Lanka, France pledged its assistance in the debt restructuring process, aiming for a positive outcome for the country, the statement read.
Macron arrived in Sri Lanka on the night of July 28 following his trip to the South Pacific region. It was a pleasure to welcome French President EmmanuelMacron on his historic visit to SriLanka. During the bilateral meeting that followed between our delegations, we discussed the wide range of areas of French-Sri Lankan cooperation and agreed to further strengthen our relationship, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry tweeted on Saturday.
Macron said Sri Lanka, France share the same goal of an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Sri Lanka and France are two Indian Ocean nations that share the same goal: an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
