China-Bangladesh partnership elevated as Xi hosts Hasina amid her fifth official visit to nation
China and Bangladesh elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership on July 10 during Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to China, her first official trip to the country in five years.
President Xi Jinping emphasized that the two countries should carry forward their fine tradition of mutual support and deepen their political mutual trust during his meeting with Hasina in Beijing.
China supports Bangladesh in upholding an independent foreign policy, following a development path that suits its own national conditions, maintaining its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and opposing any external interference, Xi said.
Hasina said Bangladesh firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China in safeguarding its core interests.
The two leaders also pledged to further promote bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xi said that China hopes to deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Bangladesh, and Hasina responded by saying that Bangladesh will continue to actively participate in such cooperation.
She said that Bangladesh hopes to draw on China’s development experience and expand cooperation with China in trade, infrastructure, and poverty reduction.
China has built seven railways, 12 highways, 21 bridges, and 31 power stations in Bangladesh, the first South Asian country to have signed a memorandum of understanding on BRI cooperation with China.
China is the largest trading partner of Bangladesh, while Bangladesh is China’s second-largest trading partner in South Asia.
On July 10, Premier Li Qiang hosted a welcoming ceremony for Hasina and held talks with her.
Li said that China will strengthen communication and coordination with Bangladesh to oppose hegemony and power politics, and to better uphold the common interests of developing countries.
After their talks, Li and Hasina witnessed the signing of multiple documents on bilateral cooperation in several fields, including trade, digital economy, and health.
Both sides agreed to designate 2025, which marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties, as the year of people-to-people exchanges.
Cooperation between China and Bangladesh has developed steadily over the past five decades, with frequent exchanges of high-level visits.
Hasina, who was reelected in January, previously visited China four times as Bangladeshi prime minister — in 1996, 2010, 2014, and 2019.
