DHAKA: China said on Monday it hoped for continued ‘cooperation’ with Sri Lanka despite a pledge by the new government in Colombo to review Chinese infrastructure projects awarded under the previous administration.

The remarks by China’s foreign ministry come two days after a junior Sri Lankan minister said president Maithripala Sirisena’s government would look at benchmarks for Chinese infrastructure costs using independent audit firms.

That move is bound to please Indian and Western powers concerned about Beijing’s access in the island state.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said cooperation between China and Sri Lanka was ‘based on mutual benefit and in the common interests’ of the two sides.

‘We hope and believe that the relevant cooperation between China and Sri Lanka can further press ahead with a healthy and stable development,’ Hong told reporters, according to The Straits Times.

BDST: 1654 HRS, JAN 19, 2015