Awami League leaders in China

A delegation of ruling Awami League leaders led by its General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam is currently on a visit to China.

The Chinese Communist Party (CPC) has invited the seven-member delegation which will have meetings with central and provincial party leaders in Kunming, Dali, Beijing, and Shanghai.

Lawmakers Muhammad Faruq Khan, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, and party leaders Ashim Kumar Ukil, Faridun Nahar Laily, SM Kamal Hossain, and Biplab Barua are in the delegation.

The foreign ministry said they met Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Jiarui in Beijing on Monday.

The CPPCC is the China's highest political advisory body.

The vice chairman expressed satisfaction over "excellent" bilateral relations between the two countries as well as between the Communist Party of China and Bangladesh Awami League.

He stressed the need for further strengthening the relationship "to promote pragmatic cooperation" between the two countries.

He then briefed the Awami League leaders on CPC's policies and contributions in the development of China.

He mentioned that although the country has been attaining growing influence due to its economic strength, Beijing pursues a policy of "peaceful collaborative relationship" with all its neighbours including Bangladesh.

Expressing eagerness to further strengthen relationship with Bangladesh, the vice chairman said that they were planning to invite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and some other leaders from Asian countries to a Forum on 'One Belt, One Road' initiative to be held in China in the latter half of this year.

In response, Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, expressed his government's keen interest to take China-Bangladesh relationship to a new high.

He stressed on regular high level exchange between the countries.

He underscored the need for more women and youth exchange programmes as well as more party-to-party interactions.

The vice chairman agreed.

The foreign ministry said the Bangladesh delegation also highlighted the importance of multi-modal connectivity between Kunming and Bangladesh to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC, Chen Fengxiang, hosted a lunch in honour of the LGRD minister and his entourage.

The minister and his delegation briefed the Chinese side on socio-economic progress of the present government and sought personal support of the vice minister to encourage more Chinese investment to Bangladesh.