Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to the nation and the two leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation.
"China highly values its friendly cooperative ties with Bangladesh and will continue to offer support within its capacity for the economic and social development of the South Asian country," Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying.
Noting that China is striving for its 'two centenary goals' and Bangladesh is pursuing its 'Sonar Bangla' dream, Xi added that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative can dovetail with Bangladesh's cooperation strategies with the world.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the traditional friendship between Bangladesh and China, enjoys deeply rooted public support in Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh admires China's economic achievement, and is ready to strengthen cooperation with China," Hasina said.
She added that Bangladesh is willing to actively work with China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and support the building of an economic corridor linking Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
After their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a string of cooperation documents covering areas like joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative, information and telecommunication, energy and power, diplomatic affairs, etc.
Xi arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day for a state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to this South Asian nation in 30 years.
Bangladesh is the second leg of Xi's visit after Cambodia. He will also travel to Goa for an emerging-market bloc summit of BRICS, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
--IANS
vgu/
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
