China would stand beside Bangladesh in its development efforts: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Extending her thanks to Chinese government and friendly people for the constant support to Bangladesh it its development efforts the Prime Minister said people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting for the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh.

The prime minister said this when a six member delegation led by Chen Fengxiang, vice minister of China Communist Party (CCP) on International Department called on her at her Tejgaon office here on Thursday.

Sheikh Hasina thanked China for providing support for construction of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli river saying China has enormous contribution to the economic development of Bangladesh, said PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim while briefing reporters after the meeting.

The prime minister highlighted the programmes and plans of her government in various sectors for development and said Bangladesh has ensured food security.

To educate people the government is distributing textbooks free of cost among students up to secondary school level and to ensure better health of the rural people the government is providing healthcare services, she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is now giving emphasis on development of energy and infrastructure sectors. Bangladesh is a small country with huge population. Now Bangladesh's main task is to eradicate poverty, the prime minister said.

She also reiterated her government's commitment to "zero tolerance" to terrorism.

Laying importance on strengthening cooperation between the Chinese Communist Party and Bangladesh Awami League, the prime minister, also the president of the Awami League said recent visit of a delegation of Awami League was very successful.

More such visits would take place in future as the visit led by Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam boosted party to party relation and cooperation in sharing experience.

Sheikh Hasina recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1952 and 1957 and said the Bangabandhu's foresight about Chinese development was correct. Bangabandhu has written down the experience in his biography and it will be published in a book soon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her satisfaction over the existing relation with China at state level and party level hoping that the relation would be strengthened in the coming days.

Vice minister Chen conveyed the warm greetings of CCP General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese premier Li Keqiang to the Prime Minister.

The Chinese government is very happy for Sheikh Hasina's visit to China in 1993 as the Leader of the Opposition and making her first foreign trip to China after assuming the office of the Prime Minister in 1996.

Chen Fengxiang highly appreciated the leadership of Sheikh Hasina saying the living standard of Bangladeshi people is improving and Bangladesh economy is progressing under her able leadership.

The vice minister invited PM's ICT advisor Sajeeb Wajed to visit China to have experience in Chinese development in IT sector.

PM's advisor on International Affairs Gowher Rijvi, International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Faruk Khan and PMO secretary Suraiya Begum were present.