Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday recalled the role of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for Bangladesh and said that under his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country entered “a fast lane of growth”.
“With a GDP growing more than six percent every year for year running, Bangladesh has bettered the lives of its own people and made important contributions to poverty reduction in the world. As a friendly neighbor, China rejoices at a prosperous and progressing Bangladesh,” he said while speaking virtually at the inauguration of the celebration of Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh.
President Md Abdul Hamid, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were also present at the national parade ground event.
The Chinese President extended “cordial greetings” and “best wishes” to President Hamid, Prime Minister Hasina and the government and people of Bangladesh on the occasion.
He said: “Fifty years ago, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. A man who devoted his whole life to his country and people, he is fondly remembered by the people in Bangladesh to this day.
“The “Sonar Bangla” he envisioned is still galvanizing the 160 million Bangladeshi people in their pursuit of national rejuvenation. The principle of “friendship to all and malice towards none” he laid out remains the bedrock of Bangladesh’s foreign policy,” he said.
“Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an old and good friend of the Chinese people. On his two visits to China in 1952 and 1957, he forged friendships with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, and other Chinese leaders of the elder generation.
“As a Chinese saying goes, “Do not forget those who dug the well when drinking water from it.” We must always remember what the elder generation of leaders did for growth of China-Bangladesh relations, and shall pass on the baton of the China-Bangladesh friendship to future generations,” he said.
“Over the five decades of independence, the people of Bangladesh have stayed true to their conviction and triumphed over challenge one after another,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Hasina’s leadership always focused on “reform and development” of the country.
“China and Bangladesh have always been friendly neighbors, with the ancient Silk Road standing as a witness to a friendship that spans over the millennia,” he said.
“Since China and Bangladesh established diplomatic ties 46 years ago, our two sides have treated each other with mutual respect and as equals. The two countries have supported each other and made progress together. Today, both countries are at a crucial stage of revitalization and development.
“The Chinese dream of great national renewal can well connect with the “Sonar Bangla” dream. During my visit to Bangladesh in 2016, Prime Minister Hasina and I upgraded the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation. Bangladesh is the first South Asian country to have signed with China an intergovernmental document on Belt and Road cooperation. The practical cooperation has delivered real benefits to the people of both countries.
“Since COVID-19 struck, the two countries have stood together during these trying times. China will not forget that at the height of its fight against the coronovirus, the Bangladeshi government and people donated a large quantity of medical supplies to China.
“China, too, has done what it could to assist the COVID-19 response in Bangladesh. Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the two countries have continued to work together in Belt and Road cooperation.
“Key projects undertaken by Chinese companies, including the Padma Bridge and the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River, have seen big breakthroughs. As many as 97% of Bangladeshi products now enjoy duty-free access to China.
“I place high importance on growing China’s relations with Bangladesh and will work with President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina to strengthen the complementarities between two development strategies, advance Belt and Road cooperation, and take the strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height,” he said, wishing prosperity of the country and happiness of the Bangladeshi people. “May the China-Bangladesh friendship last from generation to generation!”
