A delegation from the People’s Republic of China led by Gen Xu Qiliang arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday.  The delegation was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Commanders of the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

General Xu Qiliang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, and a member of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (PRC), was born in March 1950, is a male ethnic Han from Linqu, Shandong Province.  He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in July 1966 and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1967. He graduated from the PLA Air Force's Fifth Aviation School.

The visit is the third of a three-nation visit by the delegation at the invitation of Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
 
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) will host the visiting delegation.  During their stay, the delegation will visit the Air Force Academy China Bay, Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee, the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, SLAF Base Katunayake and the Colombo Harbour.  The delegation will meet with HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksha, The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksha, and the heads of the Armed Forces and Police.
 
The contingent will visit the Air Force Academy China Bay and the Naval and maritime Academy Trincomalee today, and will be hosted to Dinner by the Commander of the Air Force at the Air Force Academy.