Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Zuo said on Saturday China believes Bangladeshi people are capable enough to hold the upcoming general elections in a fair and peaceful manner.
He made the remarks while responding to a question whether China would send election observers to Bangladesh or not.
He was talking to newsmen after a dialogue on Bangladesh-China Relations: Prognosis for the Future' organised by the Cosmos Foundation at a city hotel.
"China hopes that the coming election will be held in a peaceful and fair manner," he said.
In response to criticism that China was backing Myanmar despite its involvement in ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, the ambassador said his country has been playing a "very constructive" role in resolving the issue.
Speaking at the dialogue, Mr Zhang said China's relationship with Bangladesh reached new height during President Xi Jin Ping's visit as both the countries formed strategic partnership then.
Reiterating China's commitment to helping Bangladesh in infrastructure development, he said China always emphasises
mutual benefit with regard to its relations with its partner countries.
"Both of our countries have been working to ensure shared benefit and to promote common interest," he said.
Suggesting further deepening of the ties, Mr Jhang said people should be kept in the centre of the bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also stressed the need for working hand in hand to promote regional connectivity and economic integration.
Professor Imtiaz Ahmed of Dhaka University said China's engagement in South Asia has increased over the years.
He suggested reinventing the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) by including some more countries in it like China and Japan.
"Many say that since India and Pakistan cannot work together, the SAARC is not functioning. But if these two countries can work together in Shanghai Cooperation Forum, why can't they work together in the SAARC?" he asked.
He also noted that as the world has changed a lot and many legal instruments have emerged with regard to crime against humanity, Myanmar cannot escape the international trial.
There is clear evidence that Myanmar conducted genocide against the Rohingya and when genocide takes place it cannot remain as a bilateral issue any longer, he argued.
Professor Afsan Chowdhury of BRAC University said China is losing its popularity in Bangladesh for its role over Myanmar.
He also noted Bangladesh's foreign policy is "reactive rather than predictive."
In this connection, he cited the incident of remaining as a spectator when thousands of Rohingya were forced to enter Bangladesh by Myanmar.
Yuan Jirong, chief of Indian Bureau of the People's Daily, said China plans to invest up to one trillion dollars in the next couple of decades under the One Belt One Road (OBOR) scheme.
"Bangladesh can attract a large chunk of that investment," he added.
Among others, Professor Li Tao of Sichuan University, Enayetullah Khan, chairman of Cosmos Foundation, addressed the dialogue, chaired by Dr Iftekher Ahmed Chowdhuey, a former foreign affairs adviser to the caretaker government.
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