Bangladesh and China want to reduce existing trade deficit between the two countries and strengthen coordination and deepen cooperation in various fields to take the bilateral strategic cooperation to a new level.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talked over stronger partnership during a bilateral meeting at the Hotel Hilton Sandton on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit on Wednesday (23 August) at Johannesburg in South Africa.
After the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen briefed the media.
He said at the meeting both the leaders of China and Bangladesh discussed about reducing the trade deficit between the two countries while Bangladesh expressed its willingness to export fruits to China.
Xi Jinping assured that China will stand by Bangladesh for its inclusion as a new member in BRICS and Bangladesh will always get Chinese assistance on the Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar. China also wants peace and stability in the region.
The Chinese president assured that China will always stand by Bangladesh in building the ‘Sonar Bangla’.
“China wants the development of Bangladesh to continue considering Bangladesh as its strategic partner”, the Chinese President said.
The Chinese head of state has also shown interest in making preferential trade agreements including renewable energy, infrastructure development.
Xi also called for stronger personnel exchanges as well as deeper cultural and people-to-people bonds.
On the other hand, congratulating Xi Jinping on the 10th anniversary of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, Sheikh Hasina said that ‘Belt and Road Cooperation’ has opened new doors of development for Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh firmly follows the ‘One-China’ policy and appreciates Chinese role in promoting regional peace and stability.
“Bangladesh is ready to deepen relations with China and strengthen cooperation in multilateral processes like BRICS”, said the Bangladesh premier.
Sheikh Hasina also said that Xi Jinping’s visit to Bangladesh in 2016 has become a milestone in bilateral relations. China has provided invaluable assistance to Bangladesh’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and economic development, which has helped Bangladesh’s development and people’s living standards.
Meeting sources said, during the talks, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Bangladesh on the occasion of Padma Bridge Railway Link inauguration in October this year.
The sources said, the Chinese President Xi Jinping also accepted the invitation and expressed his willingness to visit to Bangladesh stating that the foreign ministers of both the countries will decide on time for his visit to Bangladesh. Xi Jinping also invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit China.
However, Prime Minister said, “It would be difficult for her to visit China before the upcoming National Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh due time constraint.”
During the briefing, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen said, “In the evening, a banquet was arranged in honour of the heads of state and government visiting BRICS.
Prime minister of India Narendra Modi walked up to our prime minister Sheikh Hasina to exchange pleasantries with her”.
Besides, Momen Said, the Vice-President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima, while speaking to Dr. Momen in the evening, sought assistance from Bangladesh to build garment industry in their country.
The meeting began at around 6:30pm local time, (10:30pm of Bangladesh time). Apart from Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was accompanied, among others, by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Saima Wazed, the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and also an advisor to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General on Mental Health and Autism, Thematic Ambassador of CVF, Advisor and Principal Secretary and of Bangladesh.
