Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he places high importance on growing China’s relations with Bangladesh and wishes to take the strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height.
In his video message on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and Mujib Year, President Xi on Wednesday said China will work with President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ‘to strengthen the complementarity between two development strategies, advance Belt and Road cooperation, and take the strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height’.
He expressed cordial greetings and best wishes to president, prime minister, government and people of Bangladesh on this joyous occasion.
“I wish Bangladesh prosperity and its people happiness. May the China-Bangladesh friendship last from generation to generation.”
Praising Bangabandhu, the Chinese president said fifty years ago he founded Bangladesh.
A man who devoted his whole life to his country and people, he is fondly remembered by the people in Bangladesh to this day, the president stated.
“The ‘Sonar Bangla’ he envisioned is still galvanising the 160 million Bangladeshi people in their pursuit of national rejuvenation. The principle of ‘friendship to all and malice towards none’ he laid out remains the bedrock of Bangladesh’s foreign policy.”
Recalling history, President Xi said, “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an old and good friend of the Chinese people. On his two visits to China in 1952 and 1957, he forged friendships with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, and other Chinese leaders of the elder generation.”
He continued, “As a Chinese saying goes, ‘Do not forget those who dug the well when drinking water from it’. We must always remember what the elder generation of leaders did for growth of China-Bangladesh relations, and shall pass on the baton of the China-Bangladesh friendship to future generations.”
He lauded the present leadership of the country saying that over the five decades of independence, the people of Bangladesh have stayed true to their conviction and triumphed over challenge one after another.
“Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Bangladesh has focused on reform and development and entered a fast lane of growth. With a GDP (gross domestic product) growing more than six per cent every year, Bangladesh has bettered the lives of its own people and made important contributions to poverty reduction in the world. As a friendly neighbour, China rejoices at a prosperous and progressing Bangladesh.”
Highlighting the bilateral ties he said, China and Bangladesh have always been friendly neighbours, with the ancient Silk Road standing as a witness to a friendship that spans over the millennia.
“Since China and Bangladesh established diplomatic ties 46 years ago, our two sides have treated each other with mutual respect and as equals. The two countries have supported each other and made progress together.”
“Today, both countries are at a crucial stage of revitalisation and development. The Chinese dream of great national renewal can well connect with the ‘Sonar Bangla’ dream.”
“During my visit to Bangladesh in 2016, Prime Minister Hasina and I upgraded the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation. Bangladesh is the first South Asian country to have signed with China an intergovernmental document on Belt and Road cooperation. The practical cooperation has delivered real benefits to the people of both countries.”
About the cooperation between the two countries during the pandemic, President Xi said that since Covid-19 struck the two countries have stood together during these trying times. China will not forget that at the height of its fight against the coronovirus, the Bangladeshi government and people donated a large quantity of medical supplies to China.
“China, too, has done what it could to assist the Covid-19 response in Bangladesh. Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the two countries have continued to work together in Belt and Road cooperation.”
He also pointed out that key projects undertaken by Chinese companies, including the Padma Bridge and the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli river, have seen big breakthroughs.
As many as 97 per cent of Bangladeshi products now enjoy duty-free access to China, the Chinese president added.
