CPC Minister Liu Haixing calls on PM at Secretariat

Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Haixing paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his Secretariat office on Wednesday (November 4).

During the meeting, Liu Haixing conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who in turn extended his warm wishes to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

Recalling the joint declaration issued during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Beijing, Liu Haixing expressed hope to expand mutual cooperation across multiple sectors in line with the new era of bilateral relations.

Liu Haixing reaffirmed China's unchanged commitment to supporting Bangladesh's development and expressed confidence in the country's economic growth prospects under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman highlighted that the foundation of Bangladesh-China relations was laid during the tenure of slain President Ziaur Rahman. He emphasized the duty of maintaining this historical continuity and passing the legacy of friendship to future generations.

The Prime Minister noted that President Ziaur Rahman's visit to China inspired the historic canal-digging program in Bangladesh, adding that the current government has undertaken an initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals to benefit agriculture and preserve ecological balance.

Both sides emphasized strengthening party-to-party contacts between the CPC and the BNP, with Liu Haixing extending an invitation for a BNP delegation led by its secretary general to visit China.

Discussions also touched upon the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and China's support for Bangladesh's inclusion in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman drew attention to the economic, demographic, and environmental strains caused by the prolonged presence of 1.3 million Rohingya refugees, seeking China's assistance to resolve the crisis. Liu Haixing assured that he would convey the Prime Minister's concerns directly to President Xi Jinping.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam were present during the meeting.

The Chinese delegation included Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Dr Liu Yuyin and Director General of the South East and South Asian Affairs Bureau under the CPC International Department Peng Xiubin.

-SA