Beijing for 'strategic mutual trust'

China has placed five specific suggestions for deepening the Bangladesh-China strategic partnership of cooperation with an emphasis on deepening "strategic mutual trust", saying the next decade will see "faster changes" in the international alignment of forces.

“First, we need to deepen strategic mutual trust and then we need to deepen economic integration," said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zhang Zuo while sharing his thoughts at Cosmos Dialogue yesterday.

Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bangladeshi conglomerate Cosmos Group, hosted the symposium titled ‘Bangladesh-China Relations: Prognosis for the Future’ at a city hotel yesterday, where Bangladeshi and Chinese experts participated.

The three other suggestions are to deepen innovation and interaction; have stronger cooperation on experience sharing on security; and deepen cultural and people's connectivity.

Ambassador Zuo was addressing as chief guest at the dialogue.

About the upcoming election, The Chinese Ambassador said, “We hope, you'll have a very smooth election.” He was talking to reporters after attending the dialogue.

About the Rohingya issue, Zhang Zuo said China will continue to play a constructive role in properly solving the problem of Rakhine State, in accordance with the three-phase solution to stopping violence, repatriation and development.

He also said Bangladesh is an important converging point for the land and maritime Silk Roads, so it becomes a natural partner for the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. "We need to promote infrastructure connectivity."

Chairman of Cosmos Foundation Enayetullah Khan delivered the welcome speech while Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore and a former adviser to a caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury chaired the session.

UNB Chairman Amanullah Khan and Director Masud Khan were, present, among others.