China is an indispensable and dependable friend in Asia – Rear Adm. (retd.) Weerasekera

MP Sarath Weerasekera has said in Beijing that developing nations in Asia must have a common programme for economic development and for security concerns and also how to achieve sustainable development and sustainable growth.

Addressing a forum organized by China, the former Public Security Minister said: We in Asia specially face many security challenges. Climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, cyber-crime, drugs and terrorism. Terrorism is killing innocents to achieve a political aim, therefore whether the cause for terrorism is justifiable or not terrorism cannot be justified. It is not local or regional but global and transnational. So there has to be a concise and concerted effort on the part of the international community to address that menace.

These things can make enterprises and entrepreneurs more uncertain and insecure about their future. These situations can destabilise nations and thus become very vulnerable. Therefore when talking about global development and shared security we must concentrate more on Asia.

The Western world will never comprehend the strength of bonds amongst Asian nations. Because historically we are friends. We have nurtured evolved relations through trade and mainly through Buddhism. So I think to face the above challenges, economic and security concerns Asia must be solidified by uniting Asian nations to make Asia stronger. We know that in that endeavour China is an indispensable and dependable friend in Asia.”