Bangladesh and China have agreed to elevate their cooperation to “strategic partnership” during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the South Asian country on Friday.
The two countries have also agreed to jointly advance China’s ‘belt and road initiative’ and establish “institutional cooperation” in areas of maritime issues and counter-terrorism.
Mr. Xi’s milestone visit to Dhaka, first in 30 years by a Chinese president, also witnessed the signing of 26 agreements on different sectors.
“We agreed to elevate China-Bangladesh relations from a closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation to a strategic partnership and to increase high level exchanges and strategic communication so that our bilateral relations continue to move ahead at higher level,” Mr. Xi said after his talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Ms. Hasina said she had “a fruitful discussion” with Mr. Xi. “Through signing the agreements, we reached a consensus to work together in trade and investment and other key areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy and power, ICT and transportation”.
Ms. Hasina said the agreements have created a platform for “our two countries to cooperate at a higher plane.”
She hoped that with cooperation from China, Bangladesh will be able to reach its goal to become a middle-income country by 2021, and wished that the friendship between the two countries will grow stronger.