China wants dialogue between top 2 parties: BNP

The Chinese foreign minister has called for dialogue between the two main political parties of Bangladesh to patch up their differences, says the BNP. The BNP's Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury made the statement after Wang Yi met Khaleda Zia on Sunday night. Wang arrived in Dhaka on Saturday on his maiden visit. After bilateral talks and calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday, he went to meet the BNP Chairperson at her Gulshan residence. After the meeting, former foreign secretary Chowdhury quoted Wang as saying that China believed an understanding between the Awami League (AL) and BNP was a must for a sustained economic development and stability. China hoped the talks would help the parties to reach an understanding, he said. The BNP and its allies had boycotted the national elections on January 5 this year through which the AL came to power for a 2nd consecutive term. BNP leaders said during the around 1-hour-long meeting with Khaleda, the Chinese minister also discussed the current political situation in Bangladesh apart from other bilateral issues. Chowdhury said, ‘China has acknowledged that Khaleda Zia and the BNP had played a special role in strengthening bilateral relations. He (Wang Yi) also remembered late president Ziaur Rahman’s contribution in establishing Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations with China which have become stronger in the last four decades.’ Wang also invited the BNP to send a delegation to attend the programmes scheduled for next year to celebrate Bangladesh’s 40 years of diplomatic ties with China, Chowdhury added, according to a news agency.