Chinese Ambassador Pays Farewell Call on Speaker
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, who is leaving his post, paid a farewell call on Speaker of the National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram on Tuesday. The meeting was held at the Speaker’s office.
During the meeting, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said China, as a close friend of Bangladesh, has been providing extensive support for the country’s development. He said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman took the first initiative to strengthen Bangladesh-China relations, while former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia contributed to the continued development of ties between the two countries.
The Speaker said that during the 15-year “authoritarian rule” of the previous government, extrajudicial killings, money laundering, enforced disappearances and a “politics of killings” deprived the people of their fundamental rights. He said democracy has been restored in the country through the latest national parliamentary election. He said the Bangladesh-China Parliamentary Friendship Group could play an important role in strengthening parliamentary relations between the two countries. The Speaker also said Bangladesh is facing many challenges over the repatriation of nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas and sought the Chinese government’s assistance in their repatriation.
Ambassador Yao Wen said Bangladesh’s current government was elected with the people’s mandate. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China had further strengthened Bangladesh-China relations. He said China is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner. Besides China’s mega projects, investments in various medium- and small-scale projects are also currently being made in Bangladesh. The Chinese ambassador said his government is interested in developing Bangladesh as a manufacturing-based hub for goods in the region. He said Bangladesh could advance economically by producing various types of logistics products, including ICT-related goods.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on increasing bilateral investment, establishing a Bangladesh-Myanmar-China corridor, the ongoing Rohingya crisis and energy issues.
The Speaker said Bangladesh has always supported the “One-China Policy” and will continue to do so in the future. He invited Chinese commercial companies to invest in oil and gas exploration and production in Bangladesh’s coastal areas, including Bhola. He also sought the Chinese government’s support for Barrister Zohorat Adib Chowdhury, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in his bid for a seat on the Executive Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Officials from the Chinese Embassy and senior officials of the National Parliament Secretariat, including its Secretary, were present at the meeting.
Deputy Speaker Meets Chinese Ambassador
Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen also paid a farewell call on Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament Barrister Kaiser Kamal MP on Tuesday. The meeting was held at the Deputy Speaker’s office at the Parliament complex.
Welcoming Ambassador Yao Wen, the Deputy Speaker recalled the longstanding, friendly and multifaceted relations between Bangladesh and China. Referring to his recent visit to China’s Yunnan Province, he praised the warm hospitality, sincerity and cordial cooperation he received there.
He also praised China’s ongoing cooperation in various development activities in Bangladesh.
At the end of the meeting, the Deputy Speaker wished Ambassador Yao Wen success and well-being in his future professional and personal life.
China’s Deputy Ambassador to Bangladesh and other senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.
