Chinese President Xi Jinping reassured Bangladesh that his nation will always be there for it, particularly by supporting Bangladesh’s membership in the BRICS and securing a long-term resolution to the Rohingya problem.
“I will always support you (Sheikh Hasina) as you can join the BRICS,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen quoted Xi as telling Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit.
Additionally, the Chinese president declared, “China will assist Bangladesh in finding a long-term solution to the Rohingya problem because we do not want instability in the area.”
Momen stated in a media briefing following the meeting at the Hotel Hilton Sandton in this city last (Wednesday) evening that Xi wishes to settle the Rohingya issue through tripartite participation of China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
According to Momen, the prime of Bangladesh stated that her country wants to return the Rohingyas to their own land since many of the refugees from Myanmar are involved in the trafficking of illegal substances and weapons.
Peace is imperative for development,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The Chinese president assured that they will always support Bangladesh in solving Rohingya issue, expressing his country’s keenness to help Dhaka in the development of energy, renewable energy and infrastructure.
Xi also gave assurance of cooperation in making Bangladesh a developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla.
He continued: “China will help you to materialise your dream to build a developed and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ at the quickest possible time.”
Sheikh Hasina has asked Xi for assistance in hastening the implementation of some Chinese-funded projects that are now stalled due to a funding shortage, and the Chinese president has promised to look into the situation.
The prime minister emphasized the necessity for closing the trade deficit between Bangladesh and China during the meetings, highlighting the fact that although China imports more than 700 million US dollars’ worth of commodities from Bangladesh, Bangladesh imports goods from China worth around 20 billion US dollars annually.
The Chinese president then pledged to take action to address the imbalance in trade between China and Bangladesh.
He said that his nation has granted 98 percent of Bangladeshi products duty- and quota-free access to the Chinese market.
