Sri Lanka to sign landmark trade pact with China

• China plans to boost maritime connectivity with Sri Lanka, where it is already building a major port project, with both countries also agreeing to deepen economic links and sign a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
• China is now the biggest provider of loans to Sri Lanka, overtaking countries such as India and Japan that had earlier been the largest source of financing for infrastructure projects
• Beijing is involved in projects ranging from roads and railways to the massive port project in Hambantota, with investments amounting to $4 billion
• Both sides discussion on building a “21st century maritime silk road
• Involve boosting “maritime interconnectivity”