COLOMBO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lanka-China Society said Friday that China is restructuring the global economy and Sri Lanka must build stronger ties with China.

Wickrema Weerasooria, founder of the Sri Lanka-China Society told a meeting in celebrating the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between the two countries that China will have the largest economy by the year of 2035.

Weerasooria said China's huge human resources and its government's correct policies are contributing to the country's fast development.

"By ethnicity, by religion, by culture and geographic proximity we will and must have the closed ties with India but today we cannot neglect to build stronger ties with China," said Weerasooria.

Ge Chuanyou, councilor of the Chinese Embassy to Sri Lanka said the two countries are time-honored friends and he expressed confidence that the cooperation will be upgraded to a higher level.

The reception also witnessed a prize awarding ceremony for the inter-school essay competition organized by the society to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with China on Feb. 7,1957.