China won't interfere in BD internal affairs

China would not interfere in Bangladesh's internal affairs, said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday in the capital.

The envoy made this remark while addressing a meeting with the high-ups of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the party chairperson's Gulshan political office.

He said that discussion with BNP was fruitful and cooperation between Bangladesh and China would continue.

"We had a good discussion with BNP. Our cooperation will continue. China will not interfere in Bangladesh's internal affairs," Yao Wen told the media after meeting with BNP.

He hoped that everything here in Bangladesh would come back to normal within the next few days.

"Bangladesh's condition will stabilise soon, and development (in Bangladesh) will continue," he continued.

He expressed his country's support to the Bangladesh interim government.

Emphasising China's policy of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other nations, the Chinese envoy reaffirmed his country's commitment to support Bangladesh and its people as it did in the past.

He also assured that China would enhance its investment in Bangladesh in the coming days to support the country's development and the welfare of its people.

Yao Wen said they had a very productive discussion with the BNP Secretary General and the party leadership.

"We reviewed and discussed our cooperation during the meeting," he said. He said the Chinese Communist Party and the BNP share a strong relationship of friendly cooperation and exchange.

Mr Yao Wen further said that they have agreed to carry forward these excellent ties and to increase cooperation in the future.

He also mentioned that they discussed the current situation in Bangladesh and reaffirmed China's policy of offering support without interfering in the internal affairs of any country.

Talking to the media, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir who led the discussion of his party with the Chinese envoy said that the BNP was delighted to get the opportunity and talk to the ambassador in a very cordial atmosphere (Chinese) after a long time.

"We are very pleased to have had the Chinese ambassador in our office after a long time," he said.

"They (China) will continue their commitment towards Bangladesh. China will stand beside Bangladesh in the event of geopolitical situation," he said.

Mr Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir appreciated China's ongoing commitment to the people of Bangladesh.

"The Chinese ambassador extended his best wishes to Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. BNP's relation with China will be deeper and mutual confidence will be enhanced in future," he said.

He further said that their party (BNP) took the meeting with the Chinese envoy at their chairperson's office very seriously, especially in the wake of the student-led mass movement.

"China has a strong commitment to the people of Bangladesh," he said.

"They (China) have made it clear that they do not believe in hegemony. They had previously promised to always stand by the people of Bangladesh, considering its geopolitical situation, and they have now reiterated this commitment," he continued.

He said BNP appreciated China's significant global role, particularly in providing economic assistance to the least-developed and developing countries.

Mr Fakhrul Islam Alamgir further said that the Chinese envoy believed that the relationship and cooperation between the BNP and the Chinese Communist Party would be further strengthened.

"We believe our relations with China will deepen, and we will advance our ties based on mutual trust," Fakhrul maintained.

Earlier the Chinese envoy arrived at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office around 11am and held the hour-long meeting with the party delegation.

BNP standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Vice-Chairman Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Law Affairs Secretary Kaiser Kamal were present, among others.

[email protected]