by Chen Dongshu, Zhou Hanqiu
COLOMBO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- After passing through rows of jungle, one arrives at Sanjeewanie Dewanarayana's handicraft workshop, nestled among lush tropical grasses and trees in Pasyala, about 60 km away from Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo.
Displayed in this workshop are dozens of presidential, provincial, and zonal awards from various jewelry design competitions. The accolades tell the story of the craftsmanship of three generations of artisans in this family and bear witness to their dream of gaining national recognition for their brand and stepping onto the international stage.
Busily crafting silver filigree elephants and traditional silver jewelry, 47-year-old craftswoman Sanjeewanie and her 76-year-old father were preparing to deliver nearly 1,000 handmade pieces to Chinese customers at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10.
"(Although) I've been to China three times before, this is my first time participating the CIIE. I find Chinese people to be warm and welcoming, so it's a great honor to return and present my work to new customers in China," Sanjeewanie said.
Built on love for Sri Lanka's rich tradition of silver craftsmanship, Sanjeewanie's brand, Sanjeewanie Handicrafts, creates products made of 92.5 percent silver, adorn with precious and semi-precious gemstones.
"The CIIE is not only an international trade platform but also a channel of cultural exchange. I hope my jewelry brings a sense of beauty to my Chinese customers' lives, connecting Sri Lankan traditional culture with theirs in a special way," she said.
Ceylon black tea is another export specialty of Sri Lanka. Saman Kasthurirathne, Hedley's Tea founder and CEO, was also about to embark on his CIIE journey.
Hedley's Tea has a strong trading relationship with China, developed through constant imports of metal tins and ceramic ware used for gifting teas, Kasthurirathne said.
"I believe CIIE is the best opportunity for our tea to enter the Chinese market, and we can find like-minded distributors operating there with whom we could establish mutually beneficial partnership during the CIIE," he said.
Speaking about the products he will bring to the CIIE, Kasthurirathne said that Hedley's Tea will provide Chinese customers with pure Ceylon tea, which is freshly handpicked, traditionally processed, and packed within a short period, ensuring fresh taste, aroma, and natural goodness.
"We are excited in reaching out to the Chinese tea fans, especially the youth whose preferences show a great desire for novelty of taste, seeking authentic, healthy and enjoyable beverage. We believe Hedley's Tea could deliver this new generation's expectations," he added.
Kavinda Rajapaksa, deputy president of National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, said that industry associations and exhibitors participating in the CIIE look forward to strengthening cooperation and bilateral relations with China, since CIIE's achievements over the years highlight the importance of open markets, creating a platform for countries to gain new opportunities in global trade.
He said that in the face of today's protectionism and uncertainties, the CIIE has benefited the global economy by introducing new patterns of globalization, and strengthening multilateralism and economic interdependence through establishing new partnerships and reducing trade barriers.
"I think through CIIE, China has genuinely promoted the practice of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation for all, and it shows China's continuous efforts for global human development. For Sri Lankans, this type of opportunities should not be missed," Rajapaksa added.■