Chinese 76th National Day in Sri Lanka – China Rises in Strength

The 76th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China was marked in Colombo with a magnificent reception hosted by Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. His address offered more than a celebration of China’s national achievements. It was also a reminder of the stark contrast between the cooperative, respectful approach of China and the bullying, prescriptive diplomacy often practiced by Western envoys.

 

Ambassador Qi outlined the extraordinary transformation of China since 1949. In just over seven decades, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the nation has journeyed from poverty and isolation to modernization and global leadership. Where once the Chinese people struggled with inadequate food and clothing, today China boasts prosperity, advanced technology, and a confident vision for the future. This was not accidental — it was the fruit of self-reliance, determination, and national unity. It was a planned progress under the umbrella of the CPC.

 

China’s achievements on the Global Stage

 

China today is not merely a large nation, but a nation with a great purpose and vision. Its achievements span space, science, infrastructure, and technology. The Shenzhou spacecrafts reach for the heavens, the Chang’e probes embrace the moon, the Mengxiang vessel drills into the deep ocean, and Chinese high-speed rail leads the world. These are not isolated feats but symbols of a civilization that has reclaimed its rightful place on the global stage – not by coercion, invasion or illegal occupation.

 

The strength of the Chinese economy remains another pillar of this rise. Even in the face of trade wars, tariff barriers, and global economic instability, China continues to maintain steady growth. In the first half of 2025, GDP grew by 5.3 percent, and China has for years contributed more than 30 percent to global growth. This is in sharp contrast to Western economies burdened by debt, inflation, and declining productivity. While Western leaders struggle to revive stagnant industries, China powers ahead with the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and innovation-driven development.

 

A Partner in Global Development

Equally important is China’s role as a reliable partner for the developing world. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) stands as the largest and most inclusive platform for international cooperation, involving more than 180 countries and organizations. Unlike Western aid, which often comes with conditions, demands, and hidden agendas, BRI projects are built on mutual benefit, infrastructure development, and long-term partnerships.

 

Ambassador Qi emphasized China’s four global initiatives: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the newly proposed Global Governance Initiative. Together they form a framework for a more equitable and just international order — one that rejects coercion, bullying, and unilateralism. This is in stark contrast to the West’s approach of military interventions, sanctions, and cultural impositions.

 

The West in Decline

As China rises, the Western world faces its own crisis of relevance. The United States and its allies increasingly rely on sanctions and coercion to maintain influence. Western economies are weighed down by unsustainable debt, deindustrialization, and internal divisions. Social unrest, political polarization, and declining trust in institutions reveal deep cracks in societies that once claimed to be models of governance.

 

Even in diplomacy, Western representatives often arrive with instructions and demands. Aid is tied to policy changes. Trade comes with lectures. Cultural agendas are forced onto nations under the guise of human rights. Instead of cooperation, the West offers conditionality; instead of respect, it offers dominance. This is why their credibility continues to erode across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where nations increasingly look to China for true partnership.

 

China and Sri Lanka: A Friendship of Trust

 

For Sri Lanka, China has been a constant and trusted friend. The bond between the two nations spans over two thousand years, rooted in cultural exchange, Buddhism, and maritime ties. Unlike some external actors who exploit Sri Lanka’s vulnerabilities, China has consistently offered support based on respect for sovereignty and mutual benefit.

 

From infrastructure to trade, from pandemic relief to strategic cooperation, China has stood by Sri Lanka without conditions or interference in domestic affairs.

 

At a time when Sri Lanka faces economic challenges and political pressures, the reliability of China as a partner is invaluable. This friendship is not transactional but civilizational — tested by time and proven through action and true friendship, valued by the people of Sri Lanka and cannot be broken.

 

A Rising Civilization, A Shared Future

 

China’s story is not just about one nation’s success. It is about the return of an ancient civilization to global prominence, bringing with it stability, innovation, and new opportunities for all. Ambassador Qi made it clear that China’s rise strengthens peace and stability. Every increase in China’s strength, he said, is an increase in the prospects for world peace.

 

This is the essential difference between China and the West. Where the West seeks domination, China seeks harmony. Where the West imposes, China offers cooperation. Where the West declines, China rises.

 

As the evening drew to a close, Ambassador Qi raised his glass to the prosperity of China, the friendship with Sri Lanka, and the peace of the world. His words echoed a truth often forgotten in Western discourse: global leadership can be exercised through respect and solidarity, not coercion. The evening was further complimented with an array of traditional performances iced with a favorite Sinhala song by Chinese.

 

A timeless Chinese proverb captures the spirit of this moment of solidarity & celebration:

“路遥知马力，日久见人心” — Distance tests a horse’s strength; time reveals a person’s heart.

Over time, Sri Lanka has seen the heart of China. It is a heart of friendship, trust, and respect — one that shines ever brighter as the West fades into decline.

 

 

 

Shenali D Waduge