Bangladeshi FM AK Abdul Momen with Chinese FM Wang Yi. Photo: PID.
Bangladesh and China on Sunday signed four bilateral documents to boost cooperation between the two countries. The cooperation documents were signed after an hour-long bilateral meeting between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen at a city hotel.
The signed documents are certificate of hand-over and acceptance of the China-aid project of the 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, MoU on the plan of special assistance of disaster prevention and reduction; cultural and tourism exchange programme between Bangladesh and China for the period from 2023 to 2027 and MoU between University of Dhaka and first Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China for Cooperation on Marine Science and Technology Signatory(China).
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam briefed the media after the bilateral meeting. He said the Chinese Foreign Minister is pleased to see Bangladesh's socioeconomic progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Both sides discussed bilateral, regional and global issues in the meeting with a hope to "elevate" the relationship between the two countries to a "new level". Minister Wang laid emphasis on joint collaboration in the future and appreciated Bangladesh's position on "One-China" policy.
Apart from bilateral and Taiwan issues, the two sides also discussed about Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI). Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his meeting with Momen said all Bangladeshi students will return to China from today visas will be issued accordingly, said Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Hualong Yan.
Rohingya Crisis
"We must stop it (worsening situation in Rohingya camp)," Shahriar said while responding to a question on the Rohingya issue. At the bilateral meeting, China promised to give duty-free facilities to another percent of Bangladeshi products. Now Bangladesh will get 99 percent duty-free export facility in the Chinese market.
He said the Chinese side said they are committed and they will remain committed and will do their best to find the solution to the Rohingya crisis. China has said his country is sincerely working to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis terming Myanmar a difficult country to handle.
"Myanmar is a difficult country. We are sincerely working to resolve the crisis and will continue our efforts in the future. He (Minister Wang) stated it very clearly. It's a difficult country and difficult to handle," Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told reporters quoting the Chinese Foreign Minister as saying.
Razzaque, who received the Chinese Foreign Minister upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, conveyed to Minister Wang that Bangladesh is unable to bear such a big burden as the country has limited resources. The Agriculture Minister said there is an impact on social security and social stability of the country due to the presence of over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
"It's a big threat to our national security," he told the Chinese Foreign Minister after welcoming him to Bangladesh.
"One-China" Policy
The Chinese Foreign Minister thanked Bangladesh for reiterating Dhaka's firm adherence to 'One China' policy and sought Bangladesh on its side as Beijing seeks a "shared future" for all the countries. "We largely know what is happening centering Taiwan. China has its own policy. He (Wang) thanked Bangladesh and expressed gratitude as we reiterated our position," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam.
The State Minister said Minister Wang explained those issues in detail to Bangladesh, noting that some countries "misunderstand and misinterpret" them and they need to follow international rules. Before the Chinese Foreign Minister's visit, Bangladesh reiterated her firm adherence to 'One China' policy and urged the parties concerned to resolve their differences in accordance with the UN Charter and through dialogue.
"We hope it will not further aggravate...the world can't afford to have another crisis," said Shahriar Alam on Thursday, adding that the world is going through enough crises. Bangladesh urged all parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from any actions that may aggravate tensions and undermine peace and stability in the region and beyond, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Wang visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 on Saturday evening and paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He signed visitors' book there. Shahriar Alam received the Chinese Foreign Minister at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. Foreign Minister Momen saw Wang off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:45am Sunday. He left for Mongolia wrapping up his around 18-hour visit to Bangladesh.
