Beijing: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, leading to the signing of 21 agreements and the announcement of seven new projects aimed at boosting their strategic cooperative ties.
According to PTI, China expressed its readiness to leverage the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year to deepen the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road projects, as reported by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
Among the new initiatives are the 'Conclusion of Joint Feasibility Study on China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement' and the 'Commencement of Negotiation on the Optimisation of China-Bangladesh Bilateral Investment Treaty'.
Both nations agreed to elevate their "strategic partnership" to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," Bangladesh’s state-run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), reported.
During the bilateral meeting, President Xi Jinping assured economic support for Bangladesh through grants, interest-free loans, concessional loans, and commercial loans, as per the BSS report.
Xinhua reported that China backs Bangladesh in maintaining an independent foreign policy, choosing a development path suited to its national conditions, protecting national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and resisting external interference.
Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, briefing the media about the meeting's outcomes, mentioned that both countries agreed to form a technical committee to determine the modalities of the financial assistance from China. This committee will visit Bangladesh soon, he added.
Mahmud also highlighted that President Xi addressed the Rohingya issue proactively, promising to engage with the Myanmar government and the Arakan army to help resolve the crisis.
The two countries will observe the 'China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchange' next year, promoting cultural, tourism, media, sports, and other exchanges and cooperation.
Following delegation-level talks, several agreements were signed in the presence of Hasina and Li, covering areas such as the Rohingya issue, business, trade, investment, bilateral relations, and various regional and international matters.
Key agreements included cooperation in the economic and banking sectors, trade and investment, digital economy, infrastructure development, disaster management assistance, the construction of the 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China friendship bridges, agricultural exports from Bangladesh, and people-to-people connectivity.
Notable agreements include the 'MoU on Strengthening Investment Cooperation in the Digital Economy', 'MoU on Banking and Insurance Regulatory Cooperation between China National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) and Bangladesh Bank', 'Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Mangoes from Bangladesh to China', 'MoU on Strengthening Infrastructure Cooperation', 'MoU on Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development', and the renewal of the 'MoU on Provision of Hydrological Information of the Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River in Flood Season by China to Bangladesh', as reported by BSS.
Prime Minister Hasina concluded her three-day visit to China and departed for Dhaka.
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