China pledges allout support to BD: PM

FE Team | Published: June 15, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday her official visit to China last week has deepened bilateral relations and opened new dimensions of economic cooperation between Dhaka and Beijing, report agencies.
"The visit has been fruitful," the PM told a crowded press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban.
She visited China during June 6-11 at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
She said Chinese government has committed to providing all-out assistance to the socio-economic development in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and China have agreed to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation on economic, technical, trade and investment, development of infrastructures, power, regional connectivity and climate change.
She said Dhaka and Beijing also agreed to further expand closer comprehensive partnership in regional and international matters reaffirming their support to each other based on principles of peace, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual trust and respect.
"In overall consideration, I hope that my visit will further strengthen the bilateral relation, investment, trade and commerce and expand cooperation and partnership in all areas including economic, scientific and technical with China," she said, adding that "after Japan, I think my China visit was also very successful."
Sheikh Hasina said she wants to forget all old differences with any country in the economic interests of the country and go ahead with all extending support for building a prosperous Bangladesh.
She said during her formal meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping termed her as the old friend of China and Bangladesh as the closest friend and neighbour hoping that this relation will continue to grow.
During the meeting, the Chinese president on his own referred to the huge trade imbalance between the two countries and said China is equally worried about the gap. The Chinese leader assured her of allout measures to remove the imbalance, she said.
She quoted Jinping as telling her that because of its location in the Indian Ocean region, the geo-political importance of Bangladesh is very high and China considers Bangladesh as the strategic partner.
The Chinese president also promised to establish hybrid rice laboratory in Dhaka for the development of agriculture sector in Bangladesh and to provide the seeds of super hybrid rice unconditionally so Bangladesh can produce same variety of rice.
Besides, during the bilateral official talks at the Great Hall of the Peoples in Beijing, the two premiers discussed a wide range of issues on mutual interests including Bangladesh-China relations, national and international matters.
The two sides also agreed to sustain the momentum of high level interactions and engagements between Dhaka and Beijing.