PM Hasina meets Chinese defence minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised the need to strengthen the Bangladesh armed forces with modern weapons and technology during a meeting with China’s Defence Minister Gen Chang Wanquan.

“The prime minister said she wanted to focus on modern technologies for defence not just for war but for overall development,” her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters after the meeting at the Ganabhaban, her official residence, on Monday.    

A partner in development, China has been helping Bangladesh in many sectors, she said. “Both our countries are hugely populated. So, there can be cooperation for increasing yield in agriculture.”

She also mentioned the proposed corridor between Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) saying the region will largely profit from BCIM connectivity plan.

Bangladesh endorses the ‘One-China Policy’, a view to recognise only one government for China, she said, leaving it to China and Taiwan to clear their differences through talks.

Gen Wanquan conveyed greetings from the Chinese president and prime minister to Hasina during the meeting, while commending Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development.

He said China will continue to provide support in various sectors as there was “a bright future ahead for Bangladesh.”

“He said Bangladesh is an important country with a good growth potential, as he lauded it for its One-China Policy,” Karim told reporters. 

The defence minister also talked to Hasina about his meeting with the heads of Bangladesh Army, Air Force and Navy, saying potential areas for increasing military cooperation have been discussed.

India had recently said it was closely watching the Chinese defence minister's visit to Dhaka and what came out of it.