Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said he has felt strongly the "genuine friendship" of the Bangladesh government and people towards China in recent exchanges with the interim government, political parties, students and various communities of Bangladesh.
"Everyone believes that China is a true and good friend that can be trusted," the ambassador said at the 2024 Reunion for Bangladeshi Persons in China event in Dhaka on Sunday.
"They look forward to China providing more help and support to Bangladesh, and expressed their readiness to further develop our relationship."
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Economic Relations Division Asia, JEC and F&F Wing Chief Additional Secretary Mirana Mahrukh, Deputy Inspector General of Police Md Rezaul Karim, and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Syed Jamil Ahmed were present, among others.
The Ambassador said this important reunion “allows us to take stock of past progress and plan for the future, and friends from various sectors to renew their friendship and make plans for the further development of China-Bangladesh friendship."
“This year is of historic significance for China-Bangladesh relations. The bilateral relationship was elevated to a new height of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” he said.
"No matter how the international situation and political landscape in Bangladesh evolved, the China-Bangladesh relationship has always maintained a steady and sound momentum," he said.
"If we compare the China-Bangladesh relationship to a giant ship, it has navigated through the tests of changing regional and international situations, and has always advanced steadily towards the set direction."
He said the history of friendly exchanges between China and Bangladesh dates back to more than 1,000 years ago.
Despite differences in race, belief and language, “we have always maintained peaceful coexistence, harmony and win-win cooperation,” he said.
"We have long practised the principles of mutual respect and equality in exchanges, fostered friendship between the two peoples, and jointly made great contributions to peace, stability and development in the region.
"New chapters of China-Bangladesh friendship should be written by us together," the ambassador said.
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries and the “Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges” between China and Bangladesh.
The embassy will take this opportunity to increase the frequency and scale of Bangladeshi delegations to China, so that more friends will know more about China, love China and help promote China, the ambassador said.
"At the same time, we will also encourage more Chinese delegations to visit Bangladesh, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses here, and inspire more students to study and exchange in Bangladesh," he said.
"Standing at a new historical departure point, China is ready to join hands with our Bangladeshi friends to move towards the same direction, cross all the mountains and rivers, and sail the ship of China-Bangladesh friendship to an even better future."
