Xi: Bangladesh important partner in South Asia
Publish : 14 Oct 2016, 15:14
"We are ready to work with the Bangladeshi side to further deepen our political mutual trust and elevate our relations and practical cooperation to a higher level," he said in an arrival statement at
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Friday.
Xi is paying a state visit to Bangladesh from Friday to Saturday. He is the first Chinese president to visit Bangladesh in the past 30 years, reports the China Daily.
He arrived at the airport around 11:40am after wrapping up visit to Cambodia. He is scheduled to fly to Goa of India to attend the eighth BRICS Summit over the weekend.
"In the 41 years of our diplomatic relations, China-Bangladesh ties have kept moving forward," Xi said in the statement.
Stating that both the countries face similar task of development, he said Chinese dream to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is "in perfect harmony" with Bangladesh's dream of a "Sonar Bangla".
"I look forward to having broad and in-depth exchange of views with President Abdul Hamid,
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and other Bangladeshi leaders on China-Bangladesh relations and issues of mutual interests to chart the course for our future cooperation and jointly usher in a new chapter in our bilateral relations," he added.
On the other hand, Director of the Centre of South Asian Studies at Peking University Jiang Jingkui said the South Asian region has become more important in recent years especially after China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.
He said it was not a traditional focus for China.
"To some extent, the South Asian region is also one of China's backyards," he said, adding that the northern part of South Asia is key for the (Silk Road Economic) Belt, while the southern part is important for the (21st Century Maritime Silk) Road.
Bangladesh has been positive in implementing the China-India-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor, and the Chinese president's visit will bring more practical cooperative results for the two countries, he said.