Dhaka-Beijing relations are “entering a new development stage” following the elections in Bangladesh, and China is ready to align its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Vision 2041 of becoming a developed country.
“The relationship with Bangladesh is always one of the priorities in China’s neighborhood diplomacy, which is making steady progress under the guidance of leaders of the two countries,” visiting Chinese minister of the international affairs department of the Communist Party Liu Jianchao said on Tuesday at a dialogue.
The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka hosted the event, styled “Looking Towards the Future of China-Bangladesh Relations: A Conversation with the CPC Delegation”, at the Renaissance Hotel in the capital.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen moderated the dialogue that brought together leaders of the Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies, BNP, Jatiya Party, JaSod, and Workers Party, as well as representatives from the business, academic, and media communities.
Liu Jianchao comes to Dhaka for the first time ahead of the prime minister’s bilateral visit to Beijing from July 8-11.
He said the prime minister’s visit will help uplift the relationship, engaging in new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.
“China is always committed to sharing development opportunities with Bangladesh. The Chinese Dream and Sonar Bangla do dovetail with each other and can enable each other’s success,” he said, as Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia to sign the MoU for the flagship BRI during the visit of President Xi Jinping in 2016."
“Fourteen major infrastructure projects under the BRI framework have been put to use or made phased progress including Padma Bridge, Dasher Gandhi Sewerage Treatment Plant, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel,” the visiting minister said.
“These projects have delivered tangible benefits to our two peoples and served as a firm basis for our further cooperation. China will stay committed to higher-level opening up to countries around the world including Bangladesh,” he said.
He visited the Padma Bridge and called it a “flagship project” of the Belt and Road Initiative.
He paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. He met President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.
China praises Bangladesh as key partner ahead of PM Hasina's visitHe also attended a donation event under the China-Bangladesh Healthy Children Initiative held in the Jamia Islamia Arabia Madrasa and Orphanage in Bhashantek.
Liu Jianchao highlighted Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress and said “as a friendly neighbor with a shared culture, China salutes and congratulates Bangladesh on its achievements.”
“The relationship with Bangladesh is always one of the priorities in China’s neighborhood diplomacy, which is making steady progress under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries.”
“Since the establishment of our diplomatic ties, we have always respected, trusted and supported each other no matter how the international landscape evolved,” he said.
“Our relationship has emerged even stronger and become a paradigm of equality, mutual benefit and harmonious coexistence between the two neighbors. The relations elevated to the strategic cooperation partnership in 2016 when President Xi visited Bangladesh."
“Going forward we stand ready to work with Bangladesh for the alignment between the BRI and Vision 2041 and the proposal of development of the southern region,” he said.
“Efforts will be made to deepen our cooperation in infrastructure, digital economy, clean energy, climate response and industrial upgrading. Our goal is to provide more support and pathways for Bangladesh to achieve sustainable and resilient development, create more highlights in China-Bangladesh cooperation, and boost people’s sense of involvement, fulfillment and happiness in our cooperation," said Liu Jianchao.
CPC’s global principles
He also highlighted his party CPC’s activities both domestically and internationally and said they uphold three major principles while conducting different types of exchange programmes.
“First, we never draw ideological lines and that is why we have friends all over the world. Second, we develop relations with political parties no matter if they are in office or not. That is why we have so many true friends and old friends. Third, we are committed to seeking common ground while reserving differences, respecting each other and learning from each other.”
“Therefore, we can engage in candid exchanges with friendly parties on the challenges and experience in state and party governance.”
A 50-member delegation of the ruling Awami League and its affiliate bodies recently visited China. Another delegation at the party’s senior level will also visit soon after the Prime Minister’s visit.
Venture new areas of partnership
Executive Director of the Center for Alternatives Prof Imtiaz Ahmed suggested venturing into new areas of partnership between the countries.
He particularly suggested education sector collaboration, joint research, and innovation involving youths of both Bangladesh and China.
“I say this because knowledge production in the multipolar world cannot be in silos. Education is also ought to be multipolar. Technology allows us to do that,” he said.
“It’s important to link at the primary school level, not the tertiary level because by the time we enter the tertiary level, our mind gets loaded with a lot of things and we don’t change. Schools in China and Bangladesh can get connected now. We have that kind of technology,” he said, recommending a pilot project by getting 10 Bangladeshi schools connected with China.
