The newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Yao
Wen has said China and Bangladesh are "natural cooperation" partners while
potential of Dhaka-Beijing ties is "unlimited".
"The potential of China-Bangladesh relations is unlimited," he said at a
welcome reception in honor of him held at the Chinese Embassy here last
evening.
The envoy said China and Bangladesh are natural cooperation partners as both
are the developing countries with a huge population.
"There is no unresolved dispute or historical burden between us," the new
ambassador claimed.
Wen said that China and Bangladesh would also closely cooperate and
coordinate on regional and multilateral affairs, so as to inject more
stability and certainty into this uncertain and unstable world.
The cooperation on economy, trade and mega projects serves as the pillar of
the bilateral relations between Dhaka and Beijing, he said, adding: "China-
Bangladesh cooperation improves well-beings of our two peoples."
The envoy said a good number of roads, bridges, power plants, ports and other
infrastructure projects have been completed, which have reshaped the
landscape of Bangladesh, provided more than one million job opportunities,
and promoted socio-economic development as well as people's livelihood in
Bangladesh.
He said China has embarked on a new journey towards a modern socialist
country in all respects while Bangladesh is striving with no effort spared
for the splendid dream of "Sonar Bangla" by working on the country's Vision
2041.
The Ambassador hoped that China-Bangladesh relations will set a good example
for developing countries to understand, trust and support each other.
"As close neighbors, the people of the two countries enjoy a natural sense of
intimacy and similar ideas and values," he added.
In the 1950s, the envoy noted that the founding father of Bangladesh
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited China twice.
"He was so much impressed by what he witnessed in the journey and wrote a
travelogue entitled "New China as I saw", which infuses his kind and warm
feeling towards China deep in the minds and hearts of Bangladeshi people,"
said the ambassador.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman,
Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed and Secretary (West) of
foreign ministry Shabbir Ahmad graced the reception.
More than 400 dignitaries from the Bangladeshi government, army, political
parties, enterprises, universities, think tanks, media houses, foreign
missions in Dhaka and the local Chinese community attended the event.
"It is expected that, under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, China and Bangladesh will continue
developing the healthy and stable bilateral relations, promote China-
Bangladesh practical cooperation to a new level, and jointly set an example
of friendly relations among the developing countries," said a press release
issued by the Chinese Embassy after the reception.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)