China sees Bangladesh as key partner in South Asia: Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that his government considers Bangladesh to be an important partner in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

In a statement given here soon after his arrival on his first visit to Bangladesh, President Xi said, "We are ready to work with the Bangladeshi side to further deepen our political mutual trust and elevate our relations and practical cooperation to a higher level."

Praising the 41-year-old diplomatic ties between the two nations at the start of his two-day state visit to Bangladesh from Friday to Saturday, the China Daily quoted President Xi, as saying that the relationship has progressed by leaps and bounds.

He said both nations are pursuing the path of development along expected lines, and added that the day was not far off when there would be a synchronisation between a rejuvenated China and "Sonar Bangla".

He is the first president of China to visit Bangladesh in the past 30 years. He arrived in Dhaka at about 11:40 am after wrapping up visit to Cambodia. He will then fly to Goa of India to attend the eighth BRICS Summit over the weekend.

President Xi said that during his visit, he expected to have broad and an in-depth exchange of views with President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and other Bangladeshi leaders on China-Bangladesh relations and issues of mutual interests.