Beijing has congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for arranging the January 5 elections as it was required to be held to comply with the constitutional obligation, said Chinese ambassador Li Jun in Dhaka.
The Chinese envoy made the statement while attending an interaction with the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club, reported BSS.
"The election was held in line with the constitution while the rule of law is the fundamental principle for international relations as well as local politics," the envoy said.
When asked, why China congratulated a government, which the questioner said, was installed in polls held "without voters" and non- participation of the main opposition party, Li said the same principle led Beijing in welcoming Sheikh Hasina on her election for the second consecutive term.
The envoy said he also found some positive developments in the post polls period when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took part in local government polls deviating from their stance from boycotting the national elections and expected that the political dialogue could bridge the gaps between the two major parties.
China was one of the first countries which felicitated Sheikh Hasina after the polls as the elections reinstalled Awami League for the second consecutive term.
"A politically stable and economically prosperous Bangladesh will certainly help the balance of international forces develop toward a direction conducive to the world peace and the establishment of a more just and fair international order," the ambassador said.
Replying to a question, Li ruled out the validity of an old perception that better ties with either of Bangladesh's two major neighbours, India and China, would make ties worse with the other.
"China enjoys a rapidly growing relation with India over the years . . . in the international arena both of us (New Delhi & Beijing) maintain a very close relation and share identical views in common interest," Li said.
He said Bangladesh could exploit its enhanced ties with both the countries as China and India could contribute to its development.