China-Bangladesh ties like a shared ship: Ambassador

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday compared the relationship between the two counties with a ship shared by their people.

“Chinese people have a better understanding of Bangladeshi people. The bilateral relationship between China and Bangladesh is like a shared ship,” he said in his keynote speech at a reunion programme in the capital.

“Our agenda is the exchange of people to people and agriculture,” the ambassador said, adding, “More students from Bangladesh are welcome to China for cultural and educational exchange.”

The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh held the event titled “The 2024 Reunion for Bangladeshi Persons in China” at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden. The programme was organised as a sign of the long live relationship between the two countries.

In his speech as the chief guest, Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin said the China-Bangladesh relationship stands on mutual respect and benefit.

“Bangladesh supports the one China policy. Our diplomatic ties with China are so high and China supports Bangladesh instrumentally.”

Jashim Uddin thanked the Chinese government for their humanitarian support to the recent flood-affected people in Bangladesh and also for medical support to the individuals who were injured during the July-August movement.

He said, “Our ties remain resilient and adaptive. And the alumni are the bridges between China and Bangladesh and they are cultural ambassadors.”

The Chinese embassy awarded 10 Bangladeshi individuals for their contribution to the bilateral ties.

The award winners were Nilu Akter, teacher of Confucius Institute at Dhaka University, Ramhimlian Bawn, athlete of Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation, SM Ferdous, joint secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Md Saifullah Bin Anwar, additional deputy inspector general of police, Imran Ahmed Shakeer, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nawshin Raha Haque of the MoFA, Khandaker Azizul Islam, executive member of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), AKM Anisur Rahaman, member of the Mongla Port Authority, Ruhul Amin, assistant secretary of the Economic Relations Division, and Brig Gen Md Shahjahan Majib.

Syed Jamil Ahmed, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Mirana Mahrukh, additional secretary and wing chief (Asia and JEC, Fellowship and Foundation) at the ERD, Sayem Ahmed, director of East Asia and Pacific Wing of the MoFA, Md Shariful Hassan, a local Chinese language teacher at Confucius Institute at North South University, were present on the occasion.

Artists of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy performed acrobatics on the stage.