The coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, held a series of activities to promote its image as China's sailing city in Sri Lanka as the super trimaran Qingdao China arrived in Mirissa, the country's southern harbor city, on Nov 16.

The crew is warmly welcomed by the Chinese people in Sri Lanka. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The event organizers, officials from the Qingdao government and some Chinese people living in Sri Lanka attended the activities.

The first contacts between China and Sri Lanka are believed to have started about 1,600 years ago when a Chinese monk, Faxian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), traveled to this South Asian island country on his way to India in search for Buddhist scriptures.

The organizers pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com]

Qingdao and Sri Lanka also enjoy close trade and economic ties in recent years. Qingdao's industrial giants such as Haier and Aucma signed cooperation agreements with local enterprises during the Qingdao delegation's visit to Sri Lanka last May. The city also looks forward to creating more business opportunities within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The super trimaran Qingdao China departed from Qingdao, the home port, on Oct 21, and is scheduled to call at nine cities, namely, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mirissa in Sri Lanka, Mumbai in India, Alexandria in Egypt, Genoa in Italy and Monaco. It is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Nov 23.

Edited by Mevlut Katik

Qingdao China arrives in Mirissa, Sri Lanka's southern harbor city, on Nov 16.