Sri Lanka’s Marxist-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, one month after visiting India on his first overseas trip since winning election in September.

BEIJING (Reuters) -China and Sri Lanka agreed on more investment and economic cooperation on Wednesday as China's President Xi Jinping met recently-elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Beijing.

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is greeted by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong upon his arrival in Beijing, China, Jan. 14, 2025.

Dissanayake incidentally was a critic of the Hambantota port deal for its long-term lease while he was in the opposition.It was seen as a balancing act as last year India and Sri Lanka inked a deal to jointly develop 85 Word War II-era oil storage tanks at the strategic Trincomalee port in the eastern region of the country.

Sri Lanka and China have agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in “one package” in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win

According to a press release by the Sri Lankan President's media division, his visit marked a “significant milestone” by securing the largest foreign direct investment to date of $3.7 billion Chinese investment to build a state-of-the-art oil refinery at Hambantota.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attracted investments from China on his first visit to Beijing since being elected in September.

China will continue to play a "positive role" in the International Monetary Fund and maintain friendly communication with other creditors, in assisting Sri Lanka to achieve financial relief and debt sustainability,

China places Sri Lanka on top of its neighbourhood diplomacy and supports it in safeguarding its sovereignty, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart Anura Kumara Dissanayake during their