Xi calls for closer China-Bangladesh parliamentary exchanges

DHAKA - Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed that the parliamentary bodies of China and Bangladesh should enhance exchanges and dialogues.

He made the remarks when he met with Bangladeshi National Assembly Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.

Noting that cooperation between the two countries' parliamentary bodies is a significant component of China-Bangladesh ties, Xi said China appreciates the great importance the Bangladeshi National Assembly attaches to developing bilateral ties.

He urged the two countries' parliamentary bodies to strengthen communication, increase public support for improving political mutual trust and aligning development strategies, and provide a sound legal guarantee for the two countries' political, economic and trade cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges.

Hailing China and Bangladesh as good neighbors, good friends and good partners, Xi said the two countries have great potential in dovetailing development strategies and are highly complementary in practical cooperation.

China attaches great importance to the friendly cooperation with Bangladesh, and is willing to align development strategies with the South Asian nation, advance major projects, enhance people-to-people exchanges and bring concrete benefits to more people in the two countries, said the Chinese president.

Chowdhury, for her part, hailed Xi's state visit as a milestone in the development of bilateral relations, saying that she believes it will bring bilateral ties to a new height.

Bangladesh looks forward to enhancing cooperation with China in trade, investment and infrastructure construction under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, she said, adding that the Bangladeshi parliamentary body is willing to make contribution to deepening bilateral ties.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Xi arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day for a state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to this South Asian nation in 30 years.