Senior CPC leader meets Bangladeshi PM on ties

DHAKA - Visiting senior Communist Party of China (CPC) leader Li Changchun met here Sunday with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on bilateral relations.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, expressed his appreciation of Hasina's long commitment to friendship between China and Bangladesh.

Li Changchun (R), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, meets with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Oct 21, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Since China and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations in 1975, Li said, the two countries have made great progress in bilateral relations. China appreciated the firm support of the Bangladeshi government led by Sheikh Hasina's Awami League on issues concerning China's core interests, he added.

Sheikh Hasina said practical cooperation and cultural exchanges have promoted the rapid development of bilateral relations. Bangladesh will continue to stick to a friendly policy toward China and support China in important issues that concerns China, she added.

Li said China will persist in the principle of "building good-neighborly relationships and partnerships with neighbors" and the policy of "fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborly environment," and actively push forward the development of all-around cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Li said the two sides should strengthen high-level communication between governments, parliaments and political party leaders on important issues.

The two countries should promote practical cooperation and China would like to extend zero-tariff treatment to more Bangladeshi exports to China, he added.

The two sides should prop up cultural and personnel exchanges, especially the communication between the youths, and deepen cooperation in media, education, culture and medicine, Li said.

The two countries should strengthen multilateral coordination and protect the fundamental interests of the developing countries, he added.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh appreciates the active role played by China in international and regional affairs, and would like to learn the precious experience of China in its fast development.

She said Bangladesh sincerely thanks China for its selfless help in the country's development, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in her country.

Acknowledging the Awami League as an important political power in Bangladesh, Li said the ruling parties of the two countries should promote exchanges of successful experience on governance to make greater contributions to the development of bilateral relations.

Echoing Li, Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League treasures its friendly relationship with the CPC and would like to step up party-to-party relations to a higher level.

At the invitation of the Bangladesh Awami League party, Li arrived in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon, kicking off his two-day official visit to the country.

Bangladesh is the final leg of Li's three-nation visit to South Asia, following his trips to Pakistan and the Maldives.