Staff Reporter:
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal yesterday sought greater Chinese cooperation in strength-ening Bangladesh’s democracy, improving people’s living standards and advancing technology, healthcare and infrastructure development.
“We want to work together for the development of the people of both Bangladesh and China,” he said when outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen made a courtesy call on him at his office at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
During the meeting, the Deputy Speaker welcomed Yao Wen and recalled the longstanding, friend-ly and multifaceted relations between Bangladesh and China.
Referring to his recent visit to China’s Yunnan Province, Kayser Kamal appreciated the warm hospi-tality, sincerity and cordial cooperation he received there.
He also praised China’s existing cooperation in various development activities in Bangladesh.
Yao Wen said Bangladesh and China have historical and friendly relations, adding that the founda-tion for future friendship between the two countries was laid during then Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s visit to China in 1980.
Recalling Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, the outgoing ambassador said the visit would further expand areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and China.
He said the Bangladesh-China Parliamentary Friendship Group could play an important role in further strengthening parliamentary relations between the two countries.
Both sides stressed increasing bilateral visits at the parliamentary level, exchanging experiences and holding discussions on various issues, alongside strengthening people-to-people contacts and cooperation.
The meeting also discussed the expansion and modernisation of facilities at Mongla Port and the Teesta River project.
Yao Wen expressed gratitude to the Deputy Speaker and the people of Bangladesh for the coopera-tion and cordiality he received during his tenure in Bangladesh.
He expressed hope that the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and China would be-come stronger in the future.
At the end of the meeting, the Deputy Speaker wished Yao Wen success and wellbeing in his future professional and personal life.
China’s Deputy Ambassador to Bangladesh and senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.
