Khaleda for full SAARC membership to China

Main opposition BNP has called for granting China the full membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), report agencies. The party's chairperson Khaleda Zia gave the call while talking to a delegation of the Chinese Communist Party on Thursday morning at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. "The delegation discussed the issue of China becoming a full member of the South-Asian platform during the meeting and Khaleda Zia expressed her all-out support in the issue," BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, while briefing journalist after the meeting. Khaleda expressed the hope for the co-operation of China with issues like building a sea-port in Sonadia island, railway, mineral resources, water resources, electricity, training of defence forces, etc. in the meeting. The BNP chairperson also mentioned China's regional initiative in the sharing of waters of international rivers. She stressed the need for Dhaka-Kunming road communication, saying that regional network cannot be completed without China. "The opposition leader had a successful meeting with the delegation," said Fakhrul. Liu Xi, secretary of party's Beijing committee headed the representative team. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zhang Xianyi was also present at the meeting. The 17th SAARC summit kicked off in Maldives on Thursday. China is currently an observing member of SAARC. During the meeting, Khaleda said China always plays important role in world politics. China's role is very important in regional peace and political stability. She said people of Bangladesh feel proud about China's massive economic growth that has been playing a significant role in world economy. BNP recognizes China as a strategic friend, Khaleda said, adding Bangladesh is always a true friend of China. The former Prime Minister said BNP and Bangladesh always believe in 'one China policy' and Taiwan as an integral part of China. She recalled Chinese cooperation in Bangladesh's defence sector and hoped that the cooperation will continue. She also mentioned about Chinese cooperation in building up a three-dimensional naval force. CPC leader Liu thanked Khaleda Zia and recalled her nine visits to China when "each time relation between Dhaka and Beijing have increased." He said relation between CPC and BNP is historically important and it would be strengthened in future. Liu said Bangladesh and China have historical relation, which was introduced under the initiative of late President Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP. Fakhrul said the CPC leader listened with interest Khaleda's proposals and assured to take initiative to implement her proposals. Liu invited BNP to visit China and BNP also invited CPC to visit Bangladesh. On climate change, opposition leader Khaleda Zia said Bangladesh would be affected the most by the adverse impacts of climate change. She mentioned the negative impact on Bangladesh due to the Farakka Barrage in India. She sought China's cooperation and experience to remove the problems of climate change. Liu assured to extend Chinese technological cooperation to this end. The CPC leader informed Khaleda Zia about the CPC's next 11 issues of five- year plan that gave priority to science and technology development and cultural development. Replying to a question on international river water sharing, Fakhrul said China always supports peace and stability in this region so that common people are not deprived of their rights. Replying to another question, the BNP acting secretary general said that during the meeting, domestic politics was not discussed and there was no criticism of the government.