Bangladesh and China agree to increase use of local currency in bilateral trade
UNB
Publish: 11 Jul 2024, 05:16 PM
Dhaka,
July 11 (UNB) - Bangladesh and China have agreed to enhance cooperation in
financial regulation, and encouraged increased use of local currency settlement
in bilateral trade, according to a joint statement issued after Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina's three-day official visit to Beijing.
Hasina returned home
early hours of Thursday after talks with Chinese
President Xi Jinping and
Prime Minister Li Qiang.
The Bangladesh side
welcomes Chinese banks to establish branches in Bangladesh, and vice versa.
Bangladesh and China
agreed to strengthen coordination in international and multilateral affairs,
and expressed readiness to further coordinate positions and build broader
consensus in multilateral processes concerning international peace and security,
sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian affairs, climate change,
energy transition and environmental protection, to jointly safeguard the common
interest of developing countries.
The two sides discussed
various aspects of the Global Development Initiative put forward by President
Xi Jinping.
The Chinese side is
ready to share experience on GDI issues with the Bangladesh side.
The Chinese side also
presented the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization
Initiative (GCI) to the Bangladesh side to ensure peace, development and shared
prosperity for all.
PM Hasina paid an
official visit to China from July 8 to 10 at the invitation of Premier Li.
During the visit, Hasina
had a meeting with Xi and met with Wang Huning, chairman of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
In a cordial and
friendly atmosphere, the two sides had in-depth exchange of views on bilateral
relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, and reached
extensive consensus.
The Bangladesh side
congratulated the Chinese side on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the
People's Republic of China, and applauded China's historic achievements and
transformation in economic and social development in the new era.
Bangladesh lauded
China's efforts to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all
respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts
through the Chinese path to modernisation, and expressed sincere wish for China
to realise the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation as scheduled.
The Chinese side
applauded the achievements of Bangladesh in economic and social development,
and expressed continued support for Bangladesh's graduation from the UN Least
Developed Countries (LDC) status in 2026 as scheduled and Bangladesh's steady
progress toward realising its Vision 2041 of a "Smart Bangladesh."
The two sides applauded
their strategic partnership of cooperation established in 2016, and agreed that
the China-Bangladesh relationship has reached a new height.
Leaders of the two
countries agreed to stay committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence, carry forward the long-standing friendship, foster greater synergy
between development strategies of the two countries, advance the Belt and Road
cooperation, and elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive
strategic cooperative partnership.
The two sides decided to
take the opportunity of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment
of China-Bangladesh diplomatic relations in 2025 to plan together for the
future development of bilateral ties and take the China-Bangladesh relationship
to another new height.
The two sides agreed
that China and Bangladesh have been good neighbours and good friends since
ancient times, sharing a millennium-old history of friendly exchanges.
Over the past 49 years
since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the traditional
China-Bangladesh friendship forged by generations of leaders of both countries
has grown from strength to strength.
The two countries have
always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and pursued mutual
benefits. With ever deepening mutual trust, the two countries have achieved
fruitful outcomes in their practical cooperation, and kept close collaboration
in international and regional affairs, thus setting a fine example of
friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in relations between countries.
The two sides reaffirmed
their commitment to mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, independence
and territorial integrity, and to mutual understanding and support on issues
involving each other's core interests and major concerns.
The Chinese side firmly
supports Bangladesh in maintaining peace and stability, realising development
goals as envisioned under Vision 2041, non-interference in its internal
affairs, and independently choosing a development path suited to its national
conditions.
The two sides stressed
that the authority of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 is beyond
question and brooks no challenge.
Bangladesh reiterated
its firm commitment to the one-China principle and its position that the
government of the People's Republic of China represents the whole of China, and
Taiwan is part of China, and Bangladesh supports China on issues pertaining to
China's core interests and China's efforts to safeguard its national
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
END/UNB/MK/F