PM Sheikh Hasina satisfied over Dhaka-Beijing relation

The Prime Minister said this when visiting Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Kong Xuanyou made a courtesy call on her at Prime Minister's Tejgaon Office here on Wednesday, PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim said.

The Prime Minister thanked Chinese government for extending cooperation in different areas of development in Bangladesh saying she is eagerly waiting to receive Chinese President Xi Jinping in Dhaka.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her satisfaction over fruitful discussion of Chinese minister with Bangladesh's foreign minister. She said Bangladesh needs investment. In view of this, she said, her government's steps were taken for constructing special economic zones across the country. Both industrial and agriculture sectors are important for Bangladesh, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said China is a "near number-one" economy in the world. Bangladesh welcomes Chinese investors in special economic zones saying land were given to Chinese investors in those economic zones, she said.

The Prime Minister laid importance on strong regional cooperation for development saying BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) economic corridor would help trade and commerce, opening a new door of economic prosperity.

The Chinese minister told the Prime Minister that China is working with Bangladeshi officials to implement all agreements between the two countries and he had a very fruitful discussion with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary in this regard.

Appreciating socioeconomic development of Bangladesh, he said despite sluggish world economy Bangladesh's GDP growth over 7 percent is very remarkable. He hoped that Bangladesh would be able to materialize Vision 2021 under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina and the 2041 goal as well.

The Chinese minister also said his country would continue to provide all support to Bangladesh to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

Terming Bangladesh as an important country in South Asia the Chinese minister thanked the Prime Minister for Bangladesh's One-China policy.

PM's International Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi, PMO secretary Suraiya Begum and Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haq and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Ming Qiang were present.