Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has reportedly said Chinese President Xi Jinping had surprised President Maithripala Sirisena during their recent meeting with the proposal.

“Xi said why don’t we get India to work with us, which was seized upon by President Sirisena, who said that would be the best possible outcome. Both presidents agreed that India should be part of the equation,” Karunanayake has told Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

Chinese officials have said as part of China-India cooperation in South Asian, Beijing is holding discussions with New Delhi.

After the defeat of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa in January polls, China mooted the trilateral cooperation among the three countries.

India is apprehensive about the China-backed Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative, and its implications for India’s security.

It is also sensitive to China’s growing engagement in its neighbourhood, especially after two Chinese submarines were allowed to dock in Colombo last year by Rajapaksa.