Tackling Covid-19: China keen on working with Bangladesh
Visiting Chinese defence minister says
Chinese Defence Minister Gen Wei Fenghe yesterday said his country was keen to extend cooperation to Bangladesh in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak.
He said this when he paid a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban in the afternoon, president's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS after the meeting.
The Chinese minister said his country would continue its strategic cooperation in the development of Bangladesh armed forces as the military cooperation between the two countries was increasing gradually.
Referring to the Rohingya repatriation, he said, "China is also working to resolve the Rohingya problem."
Welcoming the Chinese defence minister to Dhaka, the president said China is one of the most important development partners of Bangladesh.
China's relations with Bangladesh are gradually expanding in various fields, including trade and investment, Hamid said.
The head of the state said Chinese investment in various sectors, including infrastructure and communication, is playing a very significant role in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
Emphasising on strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations in tackling the pandemic, the president told the visiting minister that Bangladesh was keen to work with China in this regard. "Bangladesh is also eager to take joint initiatives in research and production of coronavirus vaccine."
Hamid reiterated his call to China for playing a role in repatriating the forcibly displaced Rohingyas as it maintains very good relations with Myanmar.
He hoped that China would take effective steps in this regard.
The president congratulated the Chinese president and people of China on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
Armed Forces Division PSO Lt Gen Waqar Uz Zaman, President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Maj Gen SM Salah Uddin Islam, the press secretary and Secretary (attachment) Wahidul Islam Khan were present.
The Chinese defence minister arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a brief visit.