Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has pledged to continue all development assistance to Sri Lanka in future. He said this during bilateral talks with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was on a three day official visit to China. The two leaders discussed the progress of development projects currently being carried out with the assistance of the Chinese Government.China has already funded the development of Sri Lanka's ports and the power sector. They also discussed the opportunities that are being opened to reach development goals with the dawn of peace in Sri Lanka.The Chinese Premier also promised his country's assistance to develop infrastructure, particularly the highway network and bridges. A statement from the Presidential secretariat in Colombo said that the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere . It centred on the strengthening of friendship and bilateral ties between the two countries. Talks were also focused on the Hambantota port development project, the largest project in Sri Lanka carried out with Chinese funding.According to reports , China has emerged as Sri Lanka’s biggest donor replacing Japan. Since 2006, the Chinese government has provided Sri Lanka 3.04 billion USD in financial assistance. It is aiding Sri Lanka in several projects like the Katunayake Expressway, extension of the railway line from Matara to Kataragama, the Norochcholai Coal Power Project, the Hambantota Port Development, and building the Centre for the Performing Arts in Colombo. President Mahinda Rajapaksa participated in the closing ceremony of EXPO 2010 exhibition as a guest of the Chinese Government. The Exhibition was held for 6 months in Shanghai, China. The first of its kind was held in the United Kingdom to showcase new innovations with the Industrial Revolution. Later, it was held in various countries with the intention to discuss many aspects of development.State leaders and representatives from over 20 countries including Nepal, Finland, Bahamas, Hungary, Lesotho and East Timor participated in the event. Secretary General of the UN, Ban ki Moon also attended.