Chinese ambassador pays courtesy call on President Fakhrul

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday paid a courtesy call on President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Bangabhaban and invited him to visit China at a mutually convenient time on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the meeting held at Bangabhaban in the afternoon, the Chinese envoy briefed the President on the significant progress made during the recent visit of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to China.

He said notable progress had been made, as part of the visit, on laying the foundation stone of the China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ), signing a commercial agreement for the modernisation of Mongla Port, and possible Chinese cooperation in establishing the Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

The President said the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s recent visit to China would further broaden and facilitate the friendly relations between the two countries.

In response, Ambassador Yao said around 30 Chinese companies are expected to invest about USD 500 million in the CEIZ, creating an estimated 100,000 employment opportunities for local people in Bangladesh.

The two sides also held fruitful discussions on various issues of mutual interest, including the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, early commencement of a strategic dialogue at the foreign minister level, and the initiative to launch “2+2” diplomatic and defence dialogue at the state minister level.

They also discussed initiating the process of exporting jackfruit, mangoes and guavas from Bangladesh to China, cooperation in solar energy, setting up electric vehicle assembly plants, the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar economic corridor, and strengthening bilateral cooperation to address the Rohingya crisis.

The Chinese ambassador particularly recalled President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s visit to China in April when he was serving as the LGRD Minister.

He recalled and thanked the President for his meeting with IDCPC Minister Liu Haixing during that visit, as well as the handover of rare photographs and video footage showing Liu Haixing’s father, Liu Shuquing, presenting his credentials to then-President Ziaur Rahman in August 1980.

During the meeting, both sides expressed their resolve to further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and China and take the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries to new heights.