China for furthering cooperation with Bangladesh
Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Zuo on Tuesday laid emphasis on building an effective platform of discussion, sharing and mutual help to further enhance the practical economic cooperation between Bangladesh and China.
"We continue to strengthen our coordination, and push for signing an MoU on the cooperation of the mechanism in order to build it into a platform of discussion, sharing and mutual help, a platform of win-win cooperation and friendship," he said.
The ambassador was addressing a roundtable on 'China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism for Industry Enterprises under Belt and Road Initiative' held in a city hotel.
Additional secretary at the industries ministry Shah Haq, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) chairman Shah Md Aminul Haq, president of the Overseas Chinese Association Zhuang Lifeng, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Lin Weiqiang, deputy chief of mission of Chinese embassy Chen Wei, among others, spoke.
The Chinese ambassador said the friendship between Bangladesh and can be dated way back into history, yet it stays young and fresh.
"I hope the industry enterprises from two sides could enhance mutual trust, strengthen communication and coordination, work together to become partners of mutual benefits, and actively contribute to the practical economic cooperation between our two nations," he added.
The Chinese diplomat said the bilateral relationship was elevated to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation which started a new chapter in the BRI.
In 2017, bilateral trade value reached US$ 16 billion, 5.8 percent higher than last year, with China remaining the number one trade partner to Bangladesh; the engineering contracts signed between Bangladesh and Chinese companies reached US$ 10.4 billion, second in the South Asian region.
In the first half of this year, our bilateral trade value stands at US$ 9.35 billion, with a growth rate of 17.6 percent year on year; the contracts signed are worth US$ 3.57 billion, a growth rate of 8.6 percent year-on-year.
The people of China and Bangladesh have jointly written down a splendid chapter of common development and strong complementarities with mutual respect and equality.
He put forward several suggestions for the establishment of China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism for Industry Enterprises under Belt and Road Initiative.
Zhuang Lifeng said Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh has become a platform of win-win cooperation and common development for our two countries people under the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Now the Belt and Road Initiative has entered its 5th year, unprecedented historic development opportunities have opened up for industries for our two countries, along with challenges as well," he said.
Zhuang Lifeng said they believe China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination for industries under Belt and Road Initiative will facilitate closer economic exchanges and cooperation, spur the growth of Chinese enterprises, attract more Chinese investment, and further boost the economic development of Bangladesh.
"We're committed to working together with you in this regard," he said.
In the coming future, he said, Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh is determined to forge ahead, under the leadership of Chinese embassy in Bangladesh, with support from the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh, to make greater contributions to the development of friendship.
Zhuang Lifeng laid emphasis on win-win cooperation between two countries, as well as the fulfillment of the dreams of Chinese national rejuvenation and Sonar Bangla.
Bangladesh officials said the government is committed to working together with China and said Bangladesh-China relations will grow with the overall growth of Asia.