Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Bangabhaban.
Meeting the president at Bangabhaban on Sunday, August 30, afternoon, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen conveyed an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping for Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to make a state visit to China at a mutually convenient time.
During the meeting, the Chinese ambassador briefed the president on various important developments from the prime minister’s recent visit to China.
The Chinese ambassador said that as part of the visit, notable progress had been made on the groundbreaking of the China Economic and Industrial Zone, the signing of a commercial agreement for the modernization of Mongla Port, and possible cooperation on establishing a Mongla export processing zone.
The president said the prime minister’s recent visit to China would further broaden and smooth relations between the two countries.
In response, the Chinese ambassador said around 30 Chinese companies are expected to invest roughly $500 million in the China Economic and Industrial Zone. This is expected to create an estimated 100,000 jobs for the local population of Bangladesh.
At the meeting, both sides held productive discussions on various issues of mutual interest. Topics discussed included the integrated management and restoration project for the Teesta River, the swift launch of a foreign-minister-level strategic dialogue, and an initiative to start a state-minister-level “2+2” diplomatic and defense dialogue.
They also discussed starting the process for exporting jackfruit, mango and guava from Bangladesh to China, establishing solar power and electric vehicle assembly plants, the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar economic corridor, and strengthening bilateral cooperation in addressing the Rohingya crisis.
The Chinese ambassador specifically recalled President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s visit to China last April, when he was serving as minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives. He recalled and expressed thanks for the meeting during that visit with IDCPC Minister Liu Haixing, and for the handover of rare photographs and video of Liu Haixing’s father, Liu Shuqing, presenting his credentials to then-President Ziaur Rahman in August 1980.
During the meeting, both sides expressed their commitment to further strengthening the existing friendly relationship between Bangladesh and China and elevating it to new heights through multidimensional cooperation.