By invitation of the Sri Lankan Health Ministry, Cui Li, vice minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), visited Sri Lanka on November 30 to December 3. 

Cui also met with Sri Lankan health minister Rajitha Senaratne during her visit.

During her stay, Cui attended the launching ceremony of 2016's 'Brightness Journey of Lifeline Express', and visited patients who had received free cataract surgery from a Chinese medical team. It is also the first time that the Chinese medical activity Lifeline Express has beenis carried out in a foreign country. 

Cui stated that Brightness Journey of Lifeline Express is a new era of health cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, which pushes forward the two nations’ technical exchange of ophthalmology, bringing brightness and hope to patients. Cui noted that China is willing to cooperate with Asian countries within the health sector to better carry out its "Belt and Road" Initiative, enabling stronger contributions to people's health and happiness. 

Cui said that China is willing to cooperate with Sri Lanka in controlling and preventing infectious diseases, developing traditional medicine, training medical staff training and strengthening the pharmaceutical industry. She suggested both countries sign a Health Cooperation Agreement in 2017 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China. 

Rajitha Senaratne agreed with Cui's suggestion, and hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in health sector as well as through the "Belt and Road" Initiative.