BNP wants relations with India and US as well as China: Mirza Fakhrul

Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that BNP wants to further strengthen geopolitical and economic relations with China. At the same time, the party is interested in maintaining economic and political relations with India and the US.

He said these things at a discussion titled 'Long Live Bangladesh-China Friendship' organized by the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday (July 18). Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen was the special guest at the event.

Mirza Fakhrul said that China has maintained relations not only with the Awami League but also with other political parties including the BNP. Just as BNP wants to maintain relations with China from a geopolitical point of view, it also wants to maintain economic and political relations with India and the US.

He said that the existing relations between the two countries have been further strengthened through Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to China. BNP wants to further expand geopolitical, economic and commercial cooperation with China.

The BNP Secretary General said that BNP has a long-standing relationship with the Communist Party of China. Communication between the two parties continued even during the political crisis during the Awami League regime.

He also said that China's cooperation in technical education of Bangladeshi youth, technology, infrastructure development, solar and green energy sectors can play an important role in the development of the country. He also emphasized on further expanding import-export and commercial relations between the two countries.

At the event, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said that they are interested in introducing Chinese high-speed train technology in Bangladesh in the future. He said that there is also a possibility of bringing Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet under this network.

Assuring Bangladesh of maximum cooperation on the Rohingya repatriation issue, Yao Wen said that a new chapter in the relations between the two countries has begun with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to China.

Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat and other guests from various levels were present at the event. The speakers referred to Bangladesh-China relations as a shining example of mutual trust, development cooperation and long-standing friendship.