IANS
Dhaka
Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong has called for enhanced people-to-people and cultural exchanges between her country and Bangladesh so as to achieve a win-win co-operation.
Delivering a speech at the Dhaka University, Liu said China and Bangladesh have supported each other and maintained pragmatic co-operation in various fields since they established diplomatic relations 40 years ago, Xinhua
reported.
“China is now the largest trading partner of Bangladesh while Bangladesh the third largest of China in South Asia,” she said. Bilateral trade reached $12.5bn last year.
The Chinese leaders appreciated Bangladesh’s backing to the initiatives of “One Belt and One Road” and the Bangladesh-China-India-
Myanmar economic corridor.
The initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is aimed at reviving the famous ancient trade routes that span Asia, Africa and Europe.
“China is willing to forge a new type of international relations characterised by win-win co-operation and build a community of common destiny for the human race, based on the principles of consultation, concerted efforts and mutual benefit,” she said.
Liu hoped that the two countries will further cherish and strengthen traditional friendship between the two peoples so as to realise the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and the dream of a “golden Bangladesh” of unity, solidarity and prosperity.
Both countries should advance their co-operation in the fields of education, culture, science, health, media, sports, tourism, among others, she said.
The Chinese vice premier also urged both sides to expand the people-to-people and cultural exchanges to rural areas and urban communities.
She said China will offer 100 scholarships for Bangladeshi students in the next three year, donate $160,000 in education equipment to the China Studies Centre of the Dhaka University, and invite 100 Bangladeshi university students to take part in the “Chinese Bridge” summer camp in China this year.
Liu arrived in Dhaka on Sunday as a part of her two-nation trip, which will also take her to Indonesia.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, left, shakes hands with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka yesterday.
