Beijing, June 25th—Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today upon request with Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Prime Minister of Bangladesh.   

Tarique said that China is a trustworthy old friend, a good friend and the most important development partner of Bangladesh. Bangladesh cannot achieve development and security without China's assistance and support. Bangladesh firmly upholds the one-China principle, and stands ready to work with China to carry forward the tradition of friendship, deepen mutual support, expand practical cooperation across all sectors, including livelihood projects in such areas as water infrastructure, industrial parks and hospitals, and push Bangladesh-China relations to a new height, so as to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. He extended congratulations on the signing of the memorandum of understanding on exchanges and cooperation between the BNP and the CPC. Bangladesh attaches great importance to relations between the two ruling parties and stands ready to strengthen inter-party exchanges and cooperation with China.  

Liu noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, friendship has always been the defining feature of China-Bangladesh relations, and continuity is a defining feature of the friendship. Today, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace, the two sides should further consolidate political mutual trust through mutual support, draw a blueprint for win-win outcomes through practical cooperation, strengthen the bonds between the two peoples through people-to-people exchanges, and uphold international equity and justice through multilateral collaboration, ensuring that the friendship between China and Bangladesh is passed down through generations and continues to brim with new vitality. The CPC attaches great importance to its friendly relations with the BNP, and stands ready to take the signing of the memorandum of understanding on exchanges and cooperation between the two Parties as an opportunity to further deepen institutionalized inter-party exchanges, raise the level of the exchange of experience in state governance and administration, and promote cooperation in such areas as sub-national, youth, media and livelihood affairs through the "political party+" channel, so as to contribute the strength of the political parties to the continued development of China-Bangladesh relations.  

Prior to the meeting, Liu and Humayun Kabir, Joint Secretary General of International Relations of the BNP and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, signed on behalf of the two Parties the Memorandum of Understanding on Exchanges and Cooperation between the CPC and the BNP.  

Sun Haiyan, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, Yao Wen, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Bangladesh’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Bangladesh’s Minister of Water Resources, and Nazmul Islam, Bangladeshi Ambassador to China, attended the above activities.