Sino-Bangladeshi friendship hailed

The China-Bangladesh friendship has become rock-solid amid the common pursuit of peace and development, with economic and cultural exchanges expanding steadily to cement the bilateral ties, diplomats and officials said at an event in Dhaka on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural "Dhaka-China Day", jointly organized by the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh and Dhaka-based North South University, dignitaries highlighted the growing cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, in his speech, said that over the past 50 years, China and Bangladesh have witnessed a deepening of political mutual trust, closer economic cooperation, and extensive people-to-people exchanges.

"Bilateral relations have achieved remarkable progress," he said, noting that "the annual number of personnel exchanges between China and Bangladesh has reached nearly 200,000, a record high".

He expressed hope that both sides will continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen exchanges in governance experience, and elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.

Speaking about the "Dhaka-China Day", Yao said the event demonstrates the unique charm of Chinese culture, building a bridge for young Bangladeshi students and people from all walks of life to better understand the real, multi-dimensional China.

The envoy added that the Sino-Bangladeshi partnership is at a historic juncture for further upgrading.

"We stand ready to work hand in hand with our Bangladeshi colleagues to share experiences in governance and deepen practical cooperation across all sectors," he said.

Adviser to Bangladesh's Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Farida Akhter, said that China is a trustworthy and reliable development partner for her nation.

She noted that in March, the Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, visited China and signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding related to economic and technical cooperation.

The collaboration between the two sides is especially important for Bangladesh's younger generation, as they constitute more than half of the nation's population and are the main driving force for change, Akhter said.

The official said that Bangladesh is now almost self-sufficient in fish, meat and egg production. The products are not only meeting domestic demand but are also being exported to various countries around the world. In the future, Bangladesh-China cooperation can open new horizons in the fisheries and livestock sector, she said.

On Oct 4, China and Bangladesh will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Akhter expressed hope that both sides will take the anniversary as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Bangladesh's Labour and Employment Adviser Sakhawat Hossain hailed the successful holding of "Dhaka-China Day" and praised the level of development of ties.

He said he hopes to further strengthen cultural exchanges between the two countries and looks forward to enhancing cooperation in a broad range of fields.

Showcasing the charm of Chinese culture, the inaugural "Dhaka-China Day" was marked by a festive atmosphere, with over 20,000 university students and faculty members attending the event alongside government officials and diplomats.

NK Sanchaya is a freelance journalist for China Daily.

Contact the writers at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com.