Special Correspondent :
Dhaka and Beijing pledged on Friday to advance their already close and strong relationship as Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying his first state visit to Bangladesh.
In talks between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two leaders agreed that the two countries should continue to be highly trusted mutual friends and partners in economic cooperation and committed to a shared destiny in weal and woe, official sources said.
They have also decided to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries and boost their comprehensive strategic cooperation.
“The Sino-Bangla friendship that was forged decades before has grown even stronger now. The current bilateral relationship is showing a positive momentum of development, with continuously enhanced political and mutual trust, fruitful economic cooperation and closer coordination in multilateral affairs,” President Xi said during the meeting with Premier Hasina.
Xi said China has always valued the traditional friendship between the two countries, and stands ready to work with Bangladesh and extend more cooperation in big projects here to support Bangladesh’s efforts for achieving an inclusive economic growth.
“Such cooperation by his government will constantly enrich the meaning of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two friendly nations, thus delivering more tangible benefits to both peoples,” he noted.
The president praised rapid socio-economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood in Bangladesh, as well as the elevation of the country’s international status, saying that he believes the Bangladesh government will lead its people to build a more prosperous country.
“China firmly supports Bangladesh in pursuing its development agenda and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its own capacity for heading Bangladesh towards the development path,” he said.
Starting at 3:15pm, the meeting ended around 4:15pm on Friday.
Bilateral trade issues, Chinese investment in Bangladesh and connectivity were the top of the agenda
in the meeting between President Xi and Premier Hasina.
For her part, Sheikh Hasina said that the Bangladesh thanks China for its long-term assistance and carrying forward the traditional friendship as an important mission.
Noting that Bangladesh and China are good friends who enjoy a high level of mutual trust, Hasina said that the two sides have always understood and supported each other on issues involving their respective development and major concerns.
She hoped that with cooperation from China, Bangladesh will be able to reach its goal to become a middle-income country by 2021.
Hasina also thanked President Xi for his visit to Bangladesh saying that it has created an opportunity to strengthen their friendship and deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
During the talks, the two sides vowed to maintain high-level contacts, enhance government, parliament and political party cooperation, deepen exchanges on governance experience, and expand collaboration in diplomacy as well as law enforcement and security.
The two sides agreed to align their development strategies, and draw up and implement a cooperation outline on jointly promoting the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
The two countries will take measures to expand their two-way trade, and strengthen cooperation in industrial capacity, investment, water conservancy, infrastructure construction, energy, telecommunications, industry, ICT and marine sector.
Both sides also wanted to expand exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, cultural relics, health, tourism and youth.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation agreements covering those fields before the meeting.
President Xi held a press briefing after the meeting. Afterwards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also took the podium and briefed journalists.
“Bangladesh and China are trusted friends. China wants to deepen the friendship,” said Xi.
He wished that the friendship between the two countries will grow stronger in the coming days.
“China always supports Bangladesh’s efforts to economic and social development and it is ready to work with Bangladesh and extend more cooperation in big projects here. The meeting discussed issues of economic cooperation and mutual interests,” Xi told media.
“I had a fruitful discussion with his Excellency Xi on bilateral, regional and international issues which are common for both countries,” Hasina told the press.
They also jointly unveiled six projects, including multi-lane tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Dhaka and Beijing pledged on Friday to advance their already close and strong relationship as Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying his first state visit to Bangladesh.
In talks between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two leaders agreed that the two countries should continue to be highly trusted mutual friends and partners in economic cooperation and committed to a shared destiny in weal and woe, official sources said.
They have also decided to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries and boost their comprehensive strategic cooperation.
“The Sino-Bangla friendship that was forged decades before has grown even stronger now. The current bilateral relationship is showing a positive momentum of development, with continuously enhanced political and mutual trust, fruitful economic cooperation and closer coordination in multilateral affairs,” President Xi said during the meeting with Premier Hasina.
Xi said China has always valued the traditional friendship between the two countries, and stands ready to work with Bangladesh and extend more cooperation in big projects here to support Bangladesh’s efforts for achieving an inclusive economic growth.
“Such cooperation by his government will constantly enrich the meaning of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two friendly nations, thus delivering more tangible benefits to both peoples,” he noted.
The president praised rapid socio-economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood in Bangladesh, as well as the elevation of the country’s international status, saying that he believes the Bangladesh government will lead its people to build a more prosperous country.
“China firmly supports Bangladesh in pursuing its development agenda and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its own capacity for heading Bangladesh towards the development path,” he said.
Starting at 3:15pm, the meeting ended around 4:15pm on Friday.
Bilateral trade issues, Chinese investment in Bangladesh and connectivity were the top of the agenda
in the meeting between President Xi and Premier Hasina.
For her part, Sheikh Hasina said that the Bangladesh thanks China for its long-term assistance and carrying forward the traditional friendship as an important mission.
Noting that Bangladesh and China are good friends who enjoy a high level of mutual trust, Hasina said that the two sides have always understood and supported each other on issues involving their respective development and major concerns.
She hoped that with cooperation from China, Bangladesh will be able to reach its goal to become a middle-income country by 2021.
Hasina also thanked President Xi for his visit to Bangladesh saying that it has created an opportunity to strengthen their friendship and deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
During the talks, the two sides vowed to maintain high-level contacts, enhance government, parliament and political party cooperation, deepen exchanges on governance experience, and expand collaboration in diplomacy as well as law enforcement and security.
The two sides agreed to align their development strategies, and draw up and implement a cooperation outline on jointly promoting the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
The two countries will take measures to expand their two-way trade, and strengthen cooperation in industrial capacity, investment, water conservancy, infrastructure construction, energy, telecommunications, industry, ICT and marine sector.
Both sides also wanted to expand exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, cultural relics, health, tourism and youth.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation agreements covering those fields before the meeting.
President Xi held a press briefing after the meeting. Afterwards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also took the podium and briefed journalists.
“Bangladesh and China are trusted friends. China wants to deepen the friendship,” said Xi.
He wished that the friendship between the two countries will grow stronger in the coming days.
“China always supports Bangladesh’s efforts to economic and social development and it is ready to work with Bangladesh and extend more cooperation in big projects here. The meeting discussed issues of economic cooperation and mutual interests,” Xi told media.
“I had a fruitful discussion with his Excellency Xi on bilateral, regional and international issues which are common for both countries,” Hasina told the press.
They also jointly unveiled six projects, including multi-lane tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong from the Prime Minister’s Office.
