The Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, on Thursday said that prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 forthcoming visit to China was expected to make a breakthrough in Dhaka鈥檚 new proposal for extending support for the country鈥檚 foreign currency reserves.
Terming the PM鈥檚 visit as a milestone in the bilateral relation between the two counties, he said that whatever China could do, they would do in supporting Bangladesh鈥檚 development.
鈥業t is a new proposal from Bangladesh, and we hope there will be a breakthrough in our cooperation in this regard,鈥� said the Chinese envoy at the 鈥楧CAB Talk鈥� in聽 Dhaka while responding to a question about Dhaka鈥檚 proposal seeking Beijing鈥檚 financial assistance to ease pressure on its foreign currency reserves besides loans for various development projects.
About China鈥檚 role in repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar, Yao Wen said that the repatriation process was suspended due to an escalating conflict in Myanmar and its Rakhine state in particular while China was working with all parties for a ceasefire.
鈥業t is not easy to find a political settlement鈥e are relating all ethnic groups through our channel for a ceasefire,鈥� he said.聽
Replying to a question about any development in the Teesta project as India is willing to support the same project, the diplomat said that that the River Teesta restoration project was on the territory of Bangladesh, and the country had the sovereign right to take decision about it.
鈥楾he Teesta river restoration project is truly on Bangladesh territory and it has the sovereign right to take a decision about it. And all the parties should respect it,鈥� he said, adding that China would accept whatever decision Bangladesh takes about the Teesta project.
China is willing to implement the project and advanced with it at the invitation of Bangladesh, mentioned Yao Wen.
鈥楢s strategic cooperative partners, China-Bangladesh relationship is at best of all time and is also embracing tremendous opportunities for development,鈥� the ambassador said.
He also said that the visit of the PM would surely inject vibrant impetus into the bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, and promote new achievements in the strategic partnership of cooperation between the countries.
The Chinese envoy said that he did not find any tension between China and India over the Teesta project, but wanted to see that the project start very soon for the benefit of around 30 million people in the country鈥檚 northern region.
During the China visit, Sheikh Hasina will meet Chinese leaders, sign a number of cooperation documents, and jointly announce major cooperation achievements, he mentioned.
The Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh organised the event at the National Press Club ahead of the prime minister鈥檚 China visit scheduled from July 8 to11.
The DCAB president Nurul Islam Hasib moderated the event where it general secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu also spoke.
Addressing a press conference on her India visit from June 21 to 22, Sheikh Hasina said in Dhaka on June 25 that it would be easy for Bangladesh if the Teesta restoration project received support from India.
Beijing and New Delhi are already on a collision course after India鈥檚 latest proposal to finance the Teesta restoration and management project when China has already offered both financial and technical support for the same project after conducting a feasibility study.
