Bangladesh needs the help of friendly countries like China to graduate to a middle-income and developed country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.
Published : 26 Nov 2015, 03:32 PM
She solicited Beijing’s support at a meeting with Vice Minister, International Department of Chinese Communist Party (CPC), Chen Fengxiang at her office on Thursday.
A six-member Chinese delegation headed by Chen is currently visiting Bangladesh.
Hasina highlighted China’s ‘huge contribution’ to the economic development of Bangladesh, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters after the meeting.
Referring to Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s visit to China last May, she said there would be more such tours in the interest of sharing development experiences.
Hasina said she was pleased with the current ties between the Awami League and the CPC, and that she was looking forward to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka.
She also highlighted her government’s successes during the meeting with the visiting Chinese dignitary.
“We have ensured food security. We are providing free books to students up to the secondary level and taking healthcare services to the doorsteps of the rural population.
“We want further improvement in our power and infrastructure sectors.”
“Poverty alleviation is now a major challenge for us,” the prime minister told the Chinese delegation.
Hasina also acquainted the delegation with her government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards terrorism.
PM’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Gawher Rizvi, AL’s International Affairs Secretary Faruk Khan and Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Suraiya Khanam were present during the meeting.