Beijing-Dhaka relations will “surely reach a new height and open a new era of friendly cooperation” under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Yan Hualong, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy, has said.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the "The Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023" in Dhaka on Friday. Lokman Hossain Miah, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, was also present.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of BRI.
The envoy said Bangladesh had been the first country in South Asia to join the initiative.
He said the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh was holding the exhibition to vividly demonstrate the achievements of BRI in Bangladesh, build a platform for cooperation between Chinese and Bangladeshi companies and present a gift on the upcoming 74th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The exhibitors include 15 Chinese companies whose South Asian regional headquarters are in Bangladesh, nearly 20 other large Chinese companies that are deeply operating in the Bangladesh market, and several large Bangladeshi companies and banks.
Yan said economic and trade cooperation had always been an “important pillar of the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership.”
Since Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more Chinese companies had been investing in Bangladesh, he said.
Currently, there are more than 670 Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh.
These companies, “especially the exhibitors here today,” were an important driving force for China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation, the envoy said.
“They promote more Chinese capital, Chinese technology and Chinese standards to Bangladesh, providing impetus for the upgrading of Bangladesh's industrial structure and long-term economic development.
“They build infrastructures such as roads and bridges, laying a solid foundation for Bangladesh's economic development. They participate in municipal water affairs, dealing with garbage and sewage, and improving the living standards of the Bangladeshi people.
“They invested in various power plants to ensure power supply in Bangladesh and helped it become the first country in South Asia with nationwide access to electricity.
“They participated in the construction of the Bangladesh network and contributed to the construction of Smart Bangladesh.
“They are committed to promoting bilateral trade and make positive contributions to Bangladesh's import of raw materials sectors and export of finished products sector,” he said.
On the journey of Bangladesh's modernization, Yan Hualong said, China would always be a “trustworthy neighbour, close friend and cooperative partner.”
“China will continue to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Bangladesh economic and trade relations,” he said.
