Chinese media also gives due importance

The Chinese president's visit to Bangladesh grabbed the spotlight of Chinese media that highlighted the stronger future economic and political cooperation.  

The Chinese dream of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is "in perfect harmony" with Bangladesh's dream of a "Sonar Bangla", said Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“China and Bangladesh face similar task of development,” he said in an arrival statement at the Shahjalal International Airport yesterday, reports China Daily.

He said China considers Bangladesh as an important partner in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

Jiang Jingkui, director of the Center of South Asian Studies at Peking University, said the South Asian region, which was not a traditional focus for China, has become more important in recent years, especially after China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.

"To some extent, the South Asian region is also one of China's backyards," he said, adding that the northern part of South Asia is key for the (Silk Road Economic) Belt, while the southern part is important for the (21st Century Maritime Silk) Road.

Bangladesh has been positive in implementing the China-India-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor, and Xi's visit will bring more practical cooperative results for the two countries, he said, China Daily reported.

During the meeting with Sheikh Hasina, Xi Jinping said the closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation the two sides forged in 2010 has yielded fruitful results, with bilateral cooperation advancing steadily in political, economic, cultural and security areas and on international and regional affairs, reports China's state news agency, Xinhua.

Xinhua reported China and Bangladesh, both are populous developing countries, have maintained a sound relationship since they established diplomatic ties in 1975.

Two-way trade between China and Bangladesh reached US$14.7 billion in 2015, up 17 percent year-on-year. China is currently Bangladesh's largest trading partner, while Bangladesh is the third largest of China in South Asia.