BRI to open a new era of China-Bangladesh ties: Envoy
Yan Hualong, charge d'affaires, Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, also said his country will always be a trustworthy neighbour, close friend and cooperative partner to Bangladesh on the latter's modernisation journey
Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Bangladesh relations will surely reach a new height and open a new era of friendly cooperation, Yan Hualong, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, has said.
"China will continue to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Bangladesh economic and trade relations," he said at the inauguration of the "Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023" in Dhaka yesterday.
The Chinese envoy further said that his country will always be a trustworthy neighbour, close friend and cooperative partner to Bangladesh on the latter's modernisation journey.
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The Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023, featuring around 35 Chinese companies and several Bangladeshi companies and banks, among others, will continue till tomorrow at 10:30am-7pm, at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in the capital's Purbachal.
The exhibition is jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI) and Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB).
Having said that Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to have joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Yan Hualong added, "The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh holds the exhibition to vividly demonstrate the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh, build a platform for cooperation between Chinese and Bangladeshi companies, and to present a gift to the upcoming 74th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China"
He went on saying, "Economic and trade cooperation has always been an important pillar of the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership. Since Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more Chinese companies have invested in Bangladesh. Currently, there are more than 670 Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh."
The Chinese charge d'affaires further said the Chinese companies in Bangladesh are committed to promoting bilateral trade and make positive contributions to Bangladesh's import of raw materials and export of finished products.
Addressing as the chief guest, Lokman Hossain Miah, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), said that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already brought transformative change to Bangladesh and has strengthened Bangladesh's role as a vital connector in regional trade networks.
He mentioned that China's FDI stock has reached $1.34 billion - 5th largest in volume – from $19 million in 2009.
Gazi Golam Murtoza, president of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI), said, "Bangladesh, with its strategic location and unwavering commitment to progress, officially joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016. Since then, the Bangladesh-China partnership has blossomed, resulting in a host of transformative projects that have brought tangible benefits to the nation and beyond."
Md Anwar Hossain, additional secretary and wing chief of Economic Relations Division (ERD), AHM Ahsan, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), and Ke Changliang, president of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB), were also present.
