China supports BD in opposing external interference: Ambassador

China supports Bangladesh in protecting national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and averting external interference, according to the Chinese envoy in Dhaka, as a veteran Bangladeshi politician talked about preventing "Western meddling" with Beijing's help.

"A crisis is brewing up in our country and we will counteract it with the help of China," Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) General Secretary Dilip Barua told a seminar in Dhaka on Sunday.

At the programme, organised to celebrate the 74th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen commented that the future of Bangladesh can only be determined by the people of Bangladesh.

"China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in opposing external interference so that the country can maintain domestic unity and stability and achieve development and revitalisation," said Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen.

The envoy said he has full confidence in the bright future of Bangladesh and China-Bangladesh relations. The ambassador expressed his optimism that the cultural ties between the two countries will grow stronger.

He also expressed satisfaction over the support of the political parties and people of Bangladesh.

The programme was organised by the Bangladesh-China Silk Road Forum.

Chairman of the forum Dilip Barua, in his welcome speech, said that China doesn't interfere in the internal affairs of any country. He said a country requires stability and continuity for long-term development.

Mr Barua, a former minister, commented that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be in power for the long-term development of Bangladesh.

He said the Western force is decaying and Eastern countries under the leadership of China are rising. "So Western sanction against Bangladesh will not be effective."

Speaking as the chief guest, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Bangladesh is always satisfied with the steady mutual trust between China and Bangladesh.

China-Bangladesh relations were upgraded to a strategic partnership of cooperation in 2016 and strengthened further in 2019 through the visit of top Chinese and Bangladeshi leaders.

Asaduzzaman Khan said the recent meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit emphasised the importance of cooperation in infrastructure development, information technology, new energy and the agriculture sector of the two countries.

Former Bangladesh ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed said the China-Bangladesh relationship will last for many more years due to its importance. He said China has made significant contributions to the infrastructural development of Bangladesh. Dhaka University Professor Imtiaz Ahmed requested the Chinese envoy to include Bangladesh in the Shanghai Cooperation, saying Bangladesh could be a valuable contributor to the alliance.

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