POBNEWS24, Dhaka June 3, 2024: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Beijing will be a ‘game-changer’, ushering in a new chapter in Bangladesh-China relations.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said this in response to a question from journalists at a seminar at the Chinese Embassy on Sunday evening.
The ambassador said, “This (Prime Minister’s visit) will be another historic visit. This will be a game-changer. This will mark the beginning of a new chapter.”
Asked about the date of the Bangladesh prime minister’s next visit to Beijing, the ambassador said, “Wait.”
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is currently visiting Beijing to hold bilateral talks on the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit.
The Chinese Embassy in collaboration with Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) organized a seminar titled ‘China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement: A Mutually Beneficial and Win-Win Choice’.
The Chinese ambassador said, “Beijing is ready to work together with Bangladesh to complete the feasibility study of a Bangladesh-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the near future.”
“I am confident that the early signing of the China-Bangladesh FTA will undoubtedly open a new chapter of mutual benefit and cooperation, ushering in a new golden era of economic and trade cooperation between China and Bangladesh,” he said.
“China is ready to formally start negotiations within this year, so as to start as a bilateral free trade zone and conclude negotiations before 2026,” Yao said.
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu highlighted various aspects of bilateral relations in the speech of the chief guest at the seminar.
RAPID Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzak, BCCI Secretary General Al Mamun Mridha and CEAB President K Changliang spoke on it.
