Premier Li calls for expanded practical cooperation with Bangladesh

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to consolidate strategic mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and bring more benefits to the people of both countries.

Li made the remarks during talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Beijing.

Noting China and Bangladesh are close neighbors with traditional friendship, Li said that China firmly supports Bangladesh in following a development path that suits its national conditions and supports the governance of the new government.

China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, consolidate strategic mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, promote continuous new and greater development of China-Bangladesh relations, and bring more benefits to the people of the two countries, said Li.

China is willing to work with Bangladesh to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, import more high-quality products from Bangladesh, support capable Chinese enterprises in investing in Bangladesh, and expand cooperation in emerging industries such as new energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence and information and communication with the Bangladeshi side, Li added.

Li also noted that China stands ready to closely coordinate and cooperate with Bangladesh in multilateral affairs, safeguard common interests, promote unity and self-reliance among developing countries, and make greater contributions to the joint development of the Global South.

Rahman said that developing relations with China is a priority of Bangladesh's foreign policy, adding that the Bangladeshi government firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence."

Rahman expressed his gratitude to China for the valuable support it has provided to Bangladesh's economic and social development over a long period of time, noting that Bangladesh looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China and strengthening the alignment of their development strategies.

Bangladesh firmly defends the post-war international order, and highly agrees with and supports the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and four major global initiatives proposed by China, Rahman said, adding that Bangladesh is willing to cooperate with China on multilateral platforms.