COLOMBO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Tuesday said it firmly adheres to the one-China policy and will actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China.

During his talks with China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana praised the long-standing friendship between the two countries and thanked China for its long-term support to Sri Lanka's economic and social development as well as to Sri Lanka's efforts to safeguard national unity and stability, according to a statement released by Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka.

Marapana said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka will coordinate various government departments to speed up projects assessment and approval in order to promote the friendly cooperation, and bring tangible benefits to Sri Lankan people as soon as possible.

Ambassador Cheng said that China and Sri Lanka were traditionally friendly neighbors and had been long supporting each other's core interests and major concerns.

Attaching great importance to Sino-Sri Lanka relations, the ambassador said China is willing to work with all sectors of Sri Lanka to actively implement the consensus reached by leaders of both countries, speed up the mega projects cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative framework and strive for early harvest to bring real benefits to the two peoples.