Speakers at a webinar Thursday said that the relationship between China and Bangladesh has grown warmer over time as both countries share common values and goals.
They said China has been contributing to the growth in Bangladesh by being the largest trading partner and investor in the country's major infrastructural projects.
Speaking as the chief guest, Agriculture Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque requested the special guest of the webinar and Chinese envoy in Dhaka Li Jiming to play a sincere role in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
"I will earnestly request your excellency to resolve the Rohingya issue," he said.
Bangladesh is still a poor country, as well as a densely-populated one, he added.
Bangladesh-China Silk Road Forum hosted the event with its President Dilip Barua in the chair to observe the 72nd anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
"In the last 72 years China witnessed relentless development as a country and its people under the leadership of Communist Party of China," the agriculture minister said.
Hailing the bilateral relations, he said: "Bangladesh and China relations are based on shared values, commonalities, core national objectives and mutual respect."
He added that both the countries had deep relationship in the ancient past as the Silk Road was there for traders and travellers.
In the modern age the bilateral relation began in 1952 through the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China along with other leaders.
Correspondingly, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai visited Bangladesh several times in the 1950s and 60s, the minister said.
"The two-way visits contributed towards promotion of mutual understandings, goodwill, cooperation thus laying a solid foundation for rapid expansion of mutual cooperation between China and independent Bangladesh," he said.
Both the countries also maintain strong economic relation, he said adding that China continues to provide huge support to Bangladesh's economic development by providing technical and financial assistance in diverse sectors.
"China has increased its financial assistance to Bangladesh substantially since the (Bangladesh) premiere's visit (to China) in 2014," he said.
"China is now one of the top investors in Bangladesh. We have already completed nine projects under Chinese assistance amounting to US $1.45 billion," he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming, in his speech, said his country reassures its support to Bangladesh in the fight against the pandemic till the final and full victory.
With Bangladesh endeavouring to become fully developed by its 70th jubilee, and China embarking on a new journey towards its second centennial goal, there are infinite opportunities yet to be explored to uplift the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation to a higher level, he said.
The Ambassador said China will continue standing firmly with Bangladesh on regional and global issues, such as maintaining peace and security, responding to climate change, achieving SDGs, securing free trade and open economy, and developing science and technology of the next generation.
"As the old saying goes, 'Walk alone if you want to go fast, walk together if you want to go far.' Let China and Bangladesh keep our hands joined on the way to our dreams, to a peaceful and prosperous Asia, and to a brilliant shared future of mankind," he said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Dilip Barua said the emergence of People's Republic of China was a major event in the world which profoundly changed the course of human history in modern times.
He said during the Covid-19 pandemic, the world experienced that Chinese people made a strategic achievement in the battle.
He said the global significance of the 72 years' experience of the Chinese government in the contemporary world is about China's social governance, human rights protection, infrastructure, construction, people's living standards and urban security.
It made the West, which tends to claim itself as the benchmark of modernization; feel humiliated and subverted the framework and traditional cognition of western social sciences for more than two hundred years," he said.
He said internal motive forces of the Chinese development of the prevailing Chinese society will be the driving force to lead China for fourth industrial revolution.
Mr Barua said Chinese model is going to be flourishing and a new world order may emerge.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Dr Moyeen Khan said China is the oldest civilisation in the world.
He said the real challenge for the Communist Party of China was to lift the huge number of poor from poverty who were actually victims of Western colonisation.
President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Hasanul Haq Inu said after the epoch making declaration of the China Republic at Tiananmen Square in 1949 by great leader Mao Zedong, China didn't need to look back.
Through the proclamation of the People's Republic of China the people became masters of their own country.
"According to the Chinese leadership they toppled three mountains on their back, namely -- imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism," he said.
Seventy two years back China emancipated and established a new China, since then they have been witnessing a tremendous transformation, he said.
President of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Mujahidul Islam Selim said since People's Republic of China was formed it never deviated from its fundamental motto and principle though some pragmatic steps had to be taken.
Though people from other nations try to raise questions whether China is getting back to capitalism, the Chinese leaders outspokenly clarified their stance on the welfare of the Chinese people, he said.
"Unlike many other countries, Chinese common people are also getting benefit of the national economic development which is reflected through its declaration of poverty eradication," he said.
He lauded the role of Chinese leadership in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic both within and outside China.
Associate Editor of the Bengali Daily Prothom Alo Abdul Qayyum said the Republic of China is now at an outstanding level of success on the occasion of its 72nd founding anniversary.
He said the Chinese young generation's diligence and steadfastness with the aim to achieve the goal are unparalleled.
Sharing experience of his tours to China a couple of times, he said the development he witnessed within a short interval was overwhelming which was made possible with the efforts of the new generation there.
"China is now at a vantage point and also working for the welfare of the people," he said.
Media people should promote those welfare activities conducted by China before the people, said the veteran journalist.
President of Bangladesh Workers Party Rashed Khan Menon said China played a crucial role to contain the virus spread not only in its own territory but also extended its helping hands towards other nations to cope with the pandemic.
"Even, China invented the Covid-19 jabs and provided many third world countries with them to help survive," he said and added that Bangladesh is grateful to the Far East nation for the support with jabs.
China has been supporting other nations with open heart, whereas some superpowers are politicizing the virus outbreak and vaccination programmes, he noted.
Former Bangladesh Ambassador to Beijing Munshi Faiz Ahmed said China is the most important trading partner of many countries including Bangladesh.
He said China is not included in the discussion of democratic morals in the Western countries.
"For me democracy is whether the government in the state power takes care of the people's welfare and people are happy with the government," he said adding China is a democratic country in the both parameters.
He said it may not be western democracy but China has much more effective democracy in place.
He said China has always maintained global peace, sensible to other countries and culture.
Mr Ahmed said the country has always pursued peaceful development and avoided conflicts.
Former Chairman of Economics at Chittagong University Professor Muinul Islam said China achieved phenomenal growth in township and village enterprises and agricultural development.
It contributed more than 50 per cent to Chinese GDP," he said.
Mr Islam said in the purchasing power parity system China has outdone USA, it is the largest economy in the world.
He said this has been possible due to socialism with Chinese characteristics the country has been following
BCSF Treasurer ASM Kamal Uddin said a new crisis has emerged in the Indo-Pacific region due to certain activities by some world superpowers.
He said this situation has led to tensions among South and South Asisn countries.
"If it is allowed to be developed in the region, development and peace will be hampered," he said
He expressed hope that new China will play its role to maintain peace in the region.
The Forum's acting secretary general ABM Khorshed Alam moderated the webinar.
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