The representative of the Chinese government and Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng led the trade and economic delegation of the Chinese government to visit Bangladesh on August 25-26. During the visit, Gao met with the Premier of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed, held talks with the Minister of Finance Abul Maal Abdul, signed the relevant economic and technical cooperation documents, respectively met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali, the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Cadel, and attended the handover ceremony of the seven friendship bridges between China and Bangladesh.
During the talks and meetings, both sides positively evaluated the current China-Bangladesh trade and economic relationship situation, pragmatically and deeply exchanged views on the commonly concerned issues which jointly focuson building the “Belt and Road Initiative”, bilateral trade, investment and cooperation of industrial parks, assistance to Bangladesh and the cooperation of relevant major projects. Extensive consensuses were reached.
Gao said that China always regarded Bangladesh as an important trade and economic cooperative partner in the South Asia region. In recent years, under the common efforts of both sides, the China-Bangladesh trade and economic cooperation has obtained the long-term development. Especially over the past year, both sides have positively implemented the trade and economic consensuses which were reached in the exchange visits, talks and meetings, promoted the implementation of a series of the major investment project and pushed forward the balanced development of the bilateral trade. China is willing to take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, to profoundly push forward the constructive cooperation of the “Belt and Road Initiative” with Bangladesh according to the principle of containment, concertation, joint construction and common sharing, to jointly implement the South Asian initiative announced by President Xi Jinping, and to promote the China-Bangladesh trade and economic relationship to a new level.
Premier Hasina said that Bangladesh pays high attention to developing the relationship with China and is willing to fully deepen the mutual beneficial cooperation with China in all fields. Bangladesh positively responds and participates in the “Belt and Road Initiative” proposed by President Xi Jinping, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh, build the industrial parks and participate in the cooperation of infrastructure and major projects. Bangladesh is willing to work with China to jointly push forward the construction of the Bangladesh-China and India-Bangladesh economic corridors, and promote the common development of the two countries as well as the countries along the line.
When Minister Gao met with the Minister of Finance Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali and the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Cadel, Bangladesh said that they thanked China for the long-term selfless assistance to the development of the economic society of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is willing to work with China to jointly implement the trade and economic achievements made by the exchanged visits of the leaders of the two countries. Bangladesh also hopes to further strengthen the cooperation in the fields such as project financing, disaster prevention and reduction, agriculture and health care, to vigorously carry out the infrastructure construction, and to deeply promote the regional interconnectivity. The building of the seven friendship bridges by China symbolizes the amity between China and Bangladesh, embodies the Chinese people’s deep affection for the people of Bangladesh. It will strongly promote the development of the economic society of Bangladesh and the improvement of the people’s life.
