Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China, Dr. Palitha Kohona & Hambantota Delegation Visited Xiamen King Long

China International Fair for Investment & Trade kicked off on September 8^th in Xiamen. Right after the kick-off day, on the afternoon September 9^th, Sri Lankan ambassador to China, Dr. Palita Kohona, and the Hambantota Delegation of China Merchants Group visited Xiamen King Long. Zhang Bin, vice president of Xiamen King Long Motor Group and Zheng Xiaohu, general manager of King Long International Trading Co., Ltd. extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests. Then they accompanied the guests to visit the company's cultural exhibition hall and production line. Visitors also took a ride on some vehicles to experience King Long products.

Ambassador Dr. Palita Kohona Visited King Long Cultural Exhibition Hall

Ambassador Dr. Palita Kohona took a ride on Apolong Autonomous Driving Bus

During the meeting, Zhang Bin, vice president of King Long Motor Group, introduced the development history of Xiamen King Long in the past 33 years and its important overseas achievements in recent years, especially achievements of tourism sector in Sri Lanka market, and expressed his expectation to further promote King Long products, to expand cooperation mode and to strengthen cooperative relationship with Sri Lanka local enterprises. Zheng Xiaohu, general manager of King Long International Trading Co.,Ltd introduced to the ambassador the new mission and vision of Xiamen King Long and the breakthroughs concerning electrification, lightweight and intelligent transportation system solutions. Apart from the introduction of King Long regular buses and coaches, he also highlighted other type of vehicle products, such as trucks, special vehicles (such as sanitation vehicles, ambulances, etc.), hoping mutual production cooperation would be further extended to a broader range. Also, He express his expectation that deepened cooperation in terms of products, brands, technology, and services between two countries would be furthered enhanced with the assistance of the Ambassador for a win-win situation.

Sri Lanka's ambassador to China, Dr. Palita Kohona expressed his gratitude to King Long for their hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. The ambassador said that Sri Lanka maintained friendly and robust relationship with China and good economic and trade cooperation with many countries all over the world. Sri Lanka have signed free trade agreements with many countries, such as India, Singapore, Pakistan, which enables Sri Lanka to enjoy many preferential benefits such as GSP, MFN treatment etc. Enterprises coming to Sri Lanka for investment are entitled to enjoy multiple tax benefits such as customs duty, VAT and corporate income tax. At the same time, the ambassador highlighted that the strategical location rendered Sri Lanka an idea investment destination for Chinese high-end manufacturing and high-tech enterprises. He highly expected Xiamen King Long would consider investing in Sri Lanka and specially recommended factory set-up investment in Sri Lanka Hambantota Industrial Park, which he reckoned would not only meet local market demand but also could serve as a platform to radiate and expand other overseas markets.

Witnessed by Sri Lankan ambassador to China Mr. Palita Kohona and vice president , Zhang Bin of Xiamen King Long Motor Group, Xiamen King Long signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation with HIPG, China Merchants to the effect that based on the international platform of Hambantota Industrial Park, the two sides would rely on the comprehensive logistics support of the Hambantota port, free port taxation, favorable policies and Sri Lanka's advantages such as free trade agreement and one-stop service to deepen cooperation and seek common development.

After the meeting, Ambassador Palita Kohona specially took a ride to experience the 12m luxury bus, a model specially designed for Sri Lanka tourism market, which Mr. Ambassador highly appreciated after riding.

After the riding, Ambassador Palita Kohona earnestly praised King Long’s good reputation in Sri Lanka and expressed his hope that with King Long new products and new marketing mode, an in-depth cooperation in transportation could be further expanded in future.

Zhang Bin, vice president of King Long Motor Group presented model to Sri Lanka ambassador to China --Dr. Palita Kohona