BEIJING: China and Bangladesh on Wednesday elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was on an official visit to China, announced the upgrade during a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi noted that China and Bangladesh are close and friendly neighbors whose friendly exchanges date back over a thousand years.
He said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, the two countries have always shown mutual respect and support, treated each other on an equal footing and engaged in win-win cooperation.
This has set a good example of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries, especially between Global South countries, Xi said.
He said China is ready to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to deepen the high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), expand cooperation across the board in intensity and reach, and advance the sound and steady development of the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Xi emphasized that the two sides should carry forward the fine tradition of mutual support and deepen political mutual trust.
China supports Bangladesh in adhering to an independent foreign policy, taking the path of development in line with its own national conditions, safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and opposing any external interference, he said.
China is ready to carry out exchanges with Bangladesh in party and state governance experience and development policies, strengthen the alignment of development strategies between the two sides, and deepen cooperation in trade, investment and interconnectivity, said Xi.
He said China also supports more Chinese businesses in strengthening industrial investment cooperation with Bangladesh, promoting the development of industrial and supply chains between the two countries and helping Bangladesh with its national development.
Xi urged the two sides to make efforts for the Year of People-to-People Exchanges between China and Bangladesh next year to promote exchanges and cooperation in fields such as culture, tourism, media and sports.
He said China is ready to work closely with Bangladesh on international and regional affairs, strengthen coordination and cooperation within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, carry forward the common values of humanity and promote building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Beijing, China, July 10, 2024.Â
For her part, Hasina expressed hope that Bangladesh can learn from China’s successful development experience, expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, economy, infrastructure and poverty reduction and strengthen youth and cultural exchanges between the two peoples.
She said that the BRI has helped boost economic development and improve people’s livelihood in the region, adding that Bangladesh will continue to actively participate in BRI cooperation.
Hasina also welcomed China to take part in the integrated development program in southern Bangladesh and help the South Asian country with its “Vision 2041,” which aims to help Bangladesh attain a high-income status by 2041.
Bangladesh adheres to the one-China principle, supports China’s position on the Taiwan question, opposes interference by external forces in China’s internal affairs and backs China in safeguarding its core interests, said the prime minister.
Hasina expressed the belief that the Bangladesh-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership will see greater development.
The Bangladeshi prime minister’s three-day visit to China, which concluded on Wednesday, was her first visit to China since her new term began in January. She last visited China five years ago.
