Chinese FM holds talks with Bangladeshi counterpart on cooperation

DHAKA - Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali here to discuss ways to further bolster bilateral cooperation.

During their talks, Wang said China appreciated Bangladesh's consistent support to China on issues related to the country's core interests and is ready to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations in 2015 as an opportunity to jointly promote the implementation of consensus reached between the their leaders and push forward their comprehensive partnership of cooperation.

Wang said China is willing to join hands with neighboring countries to realize common development and prosperity, adding that the country attaches high importance to its relations with South Asian nations and hopes to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to accelerate the development of Bangladesh while deepening political mutual trust.

The Chinese foreign minister put forward a four-point proposal on further deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

First, the two sides should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges. China and Bangladesh should firmly support each other on major issues so as to lay a solid foundation for enhancing political mutual trust.

Second, the two sides should further boost their pragmatic cooperation. China is committed to addressing bilateral trade imbalance and signing a free trade agreement with Bangladesh as soon as possible.

According to the Chinese foreign minister, China is ready to share its expertise with Bangladesh in agriculture, science and technology and machinery and conduct cooperation in hybrid rice breeding.

Wang said China would help train management personnel for Bangladesh in building industrial parks in the country. It is also willing to help Bangladesh develop coal-fired and hydro-power plants, take part in the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources and build infrastructure such as railways, ports and bridges.

Appreciating Bangladesh's support to building an economic corridor along Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar, Wang said China is ready to develop closer relations with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

He called for enhanced cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and strengthened cooperation on major international and regional issues such as post-2015 Development Agenda, post-2020 Climate Change Regime Formation as well as reinforced coordination on important issues such as UN reform to safeguard the interest of the developing countries.

For his part, Ali expressed Bangladesh's gratitude and consent to China's proposals and expected to boost cooperation with China in wide-ranging areas, saying the move is in the interest of Bangladesh's development.

Bangladesh is also willing to enhance its exports to China, promote investment cooperation, support the construction of Chinese industrial parks in Bangladesh, deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and infrastructure investment and other fields, he added.

Ali also promised that his government would support and take an active part in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and consistently broaden cultural and people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation with China on major issues concerning the UN and climate change.