New avenues of cooperation with China open: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed her firm optimism that her current tour of China will further cement Dhaka-Beijing bilateral ties and open up a new avenue for economic and political cooperation. ‘It’s a big achievement of my visit to China,’ she said. ‘From now on, bilateral trade, investment and exchange of culture will get more importance than ever,’ she said while replying questions from different Chinese media following a seminar, titled ‘Socio-Economic Achievements of Bangladesh in Recent Years and Partnership with China’. China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) organised the seminar at its office in Beijing aimed at highlighting the profound transformation of Bangladesh in socioeconomic and political areas. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has lent its support to the proposal of China for establishing ‘Bangladesh-India-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BICM-EC)’ which was once popular as ‘Silk Route’ as it would improve the connectivity in the region benefiting the people of all countries including Nepal and Bhutan. Acting president of CIIS Ruan Zongze, who is also a former diplomat, in his welcome address gave a brief political career of Sheikh Hasina along with highlighting Bangladesh’s successes in various sectors under her leadership. Zongze praised the Prime Minister’s commitment to materialising her ‘Vision-2021 up to 2041’ to turn Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and peaceful country, according to BSS.