On April 17, 2026, Mr. Feng Wei, Vice Chairman of CIIDS, met with Mr. Rishan de Silva, Executive Director of The Geopolitical Cartographer, a Sri Lanka-based think tank, at CIIDS headquarters. The two sides exchanged views on the Understanding China Conference, China-Sri Lanka think tank cooperation, and current international hot-button issues. 

Vice Chairman Feng Wei welcomed Mr. Rishan’s visit. He noted that amid deepening changes unseen in a century, Chinese and foreign think tanks should more than ever strengthen exchanges and mutual learning to contribute wisdom to enhancing policy communication and building consensus for development. CIIDS stands ready to deepen practical cooperation with The Geopolitical Cartographer, advance China-Sri Lanka friendly relations and think tank cooperation with Global South countries, and contribute think tank efforts to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation in the international community and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Mr. Rishan thanked CIIDS for the warm reception and spoke highly of the international influence of the Understanding China Conference. He said that he was honored to attend the Conference for the first time last year, and experienced first hand its high political profile and profound brand value. He expressed readiness to continue actively participating in the upcoming 10th edition and help draw in more internationally renowned guests to attend. He also welcomed the Understanding China initiative to Sri Lanka to further expand channels for bilateral think tank exchanges. The two sides may deepen cooperation in joint research, young scholars exchange and other areas, and carry out regular dialogues on global governance, regional security, sustainable development and other topics, so as to contribute to the steady and long-term growth of China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on international issues of common concern.

Ms. Shen Yinyin, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the International Department of CIIDS, attended the meeting.