Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Li Jiming said China and Bangladesh should emphasise signing a free trade agreement (FTA) and currency swap deal for taking ahead their existing relationship of bilateral cooperation.
The envoy also said the country should step into collaboration on 5G technology and high-speed rail projects in order to facilitate cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and launch high value technology in Bangladesh.
"In order to further facilitate cooperation under the BRI and inject highly-added technological value into the cooperation between our two countries, China and Bangladesh should further focus on signing a free trade agreement and currency swap deal, and cooperate on 5G technology and high-speed rail projects, and so on."
The ambassador made the remarks while speaking as the special guest in a webinar - "Impression of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on newly born People's Republic of China" - hosted by Bangladesh China Silk Road Forum.
The Chinese envoy further said as the only major economy to see positive growth last year, China was keeping close contact with Bangladesh on resumption of work and production for its economic recovery.
Recent allegations of forced labour, forced sterilisation or genocide in Xinjiang were fabricated with ill intention, he opined.
"Several western countries are targeting Xinjiang cotton with fabricated accusations. Here, I want to make it clear that all the so-called accusations of forced labor, forced sterilisation and even genocide are fabricated by the relevant western countries with ill intention."
The ambassador said China decided to donate 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh, for ensuring the fulfillment of China's commitment to making vaccines more accessible and affordable in the developing countries to continue expansion of cooperation.
China would also coordinate sustainable and green development as well as respond to the core concerns of Bangladesh and the international community on climate change.
Mr Li Jiming said Bangabandhu (during his visit to China) was impressed by the way Chinese society had changed since the founding of the People's Republic of China.
"Bangabandhu had also predicted that if China could maintain peace and stability, the new government would lead the rapid economic development, eliminate poverty and illiteracy, and make China a major power in the world."
He recalled that over the past 46 years, China and Bangladesh had carried forward the traditional friendship, continuously deepened mutual political trust, and promoted bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
During the pandemic, China and Bangladesh supported each other and worked together to overcome difficulties. In 2021, both China and Bangladesh have entered into a new stage of development.
He further said China successfully completed building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and was going to celebrate the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China and embark on the 14th Five-Year Plan to achieve the long-range objectives through the year 2035. Bangladesh celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence and embarked on the 8th Five-Year Plan to achieve the Vision 2041.
"China and Bangladesh should adhere to the common commitment of upholding multilateralism, made by the heads of states; and contribute to world peace and stability in the post-pandemic era," he added.
Speaking as the chief guest, Professor Dr Gawher Rizvi, adviser to the prime minister on international relation affairs, said many of the predictions that Bangabandhu made about China not only came true, but also surpassed in many cases.
He noted that the China visit of the Father of the Nation greatly impacted his thinking; and he was impressed by a number of things, including the way Chinese government dealt the issue of poverty.
Speaking at the programme, President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) Hasanul Huque Inu said every country had a right to follow his own political path.
China has its own way of politics and economy, which is completely different from the so-called western democracy.
Senior journalist Abdul Quayum said Bangabandhu's book on China had enlightened Bangladeshi readers regarding so many new areas of China, its development and overall society.
The experiences he had gathered during the China visit were implemented in his later political life, he mentioned.
President of Bangladesh-China Silk Road Forum Dilip Barua said Bangabandhu in his book "Amar Dekha Gonochin" (the People's Republic of China that I saw) wrote how he was directly impressed by observing China's socio-economic and cultural developments in just four years.
Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, advisor to the president of Bangladesh Awami League, said China was not only growing economically, but also playing an important role in maintaining global peace.
"I hope China will accelerate repatriation process of the Rohingya people to Myanmar from Bangladesh to ensure peace in the region," he opined.
Rashed Khan Menon, President of Bangladesh Workers Party, said the China trip of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman played an instrumental role in his political life and Bangladesh restructuring process.
Now the bilateral relation between the friendly countries reached a new height that would be very vital in maintaining socio-economic growth and establishing peace in the region, he added.
