Full text of PM’s written speech at press conference

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed a press conference at her official Ganabhaban residence here this afternoon following her bilateral visit to China on July 8-10, 2024.

She read out a written speech at the beginning of the press conference.

Following is the verbatim of her written speech:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Dear Journalists,

and colleagues.

Assalamu Alaikum! Good Afternoon!

I paid a bilateral visit to China from July 8 to 10 at the invitation of the Honorable Chinese Premier of the State Council Mr. Li Qiang.

Hon’ble Foreign Minister, Hon’ble Finance Minister, Hon’ble Private Industry and Investment Adviser, Hon’ble State Minister for Power and Energy, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and IT, State Minister for Commerce, senior government officials and a business delegation were my entourages.

Upon my arrival in Beijing on July 8, I was greeted with a red carpet reception at the airport.

In the morning of July 9, Jin Liqun, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), paid a courtesy call on me. I urged AIIB to invest in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development, river dredging, climate change and other useful sectors.

Later, I participated in a business summit titled “The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and China”. My entourage business delegates and top businesspersons of China took part in it.

In the summit, I invited the Chinese business community to invest in Bangladesh, taking advantage of the world’s most liberal investment regime. I called for robust investment in infrastructure, ICT, tourism, agro-processing industry, energy sector including renewable energy, climate-resilient smart farming, waste management, green technology and development sector.

When I mentioned the plan to establish 3 special tourism zones in Bangladesh and the opportunity for China to invest in real estate and hospitality sector, the Chinese business leaders also showed utmost interest in this regard.

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei, China Communications Construction Group Company Limited Chairman Wang Tongzhou, HSBC China President and CEO Mark Wang, Huawei Senior Vice President Simon Lin spoke and expressed their eagerness at the summit organized by Bangladesh Embassy, BIDA, BSEC and China World Summit Wing.

In this summit, 16 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed with representatives of 10 Bangladeshi companies and various Chinese companies.

In the afternoon on July 9, I met with Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). In this meeting, we put emphasis on increasing communication between Awami League and Communist Party of China. We also agreed on mutual visits of the party leaders. I sought China’s full cooperation in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

In the afternoon on that day, I paid my tributes at the China’s traditional Tiananmen Square.

In the morning on July 10, I had a bilateral meeting with Honorable Chinese Premier of the State Council Mr. Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Upon reaching the Great Hall, Mr. Li Qiang welcomed me and the national anthems of the two countries were played. Armed Forces of China offered me a warm welcome with Guard of Honor and gun salute.

During the bilateral meeting with Premier Li Qiang, we discussed the historical relations between Bangladesh and China, China’s assistance in implementing various infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, cooperation in dealing with the challenges of Bangladesh’s post-LDC graduation period, trade and investment opportunities in Bangladesh, etc.

To reduce the trade deficit between Bangladesh and China, I requested for more exports of Bangladeshi agricultural products, leather, medicines etc. to China. I thanked him for providing duty-free access to China for 98 percent of Bangladeshi products.

Premier Li Qiang responded positively when China’s infrastructural and financial support was sought in the implementation of the Southern Integrated Development Initiative (SIDI) for the infrastructural development of the southern region of Bangladesh.

I hoped that China will continue its cooperation to Bangladesh in facing probable challenges after its LDC graduation in 2026, and I achieved China’s support in this regard as well.

After that, a total of 21 MoUs were signed between Bangladesh and China in various sectors in presence of me and Premier Li Qiang.

Among the MoUs are: Investment Cooperation on Digital Economy, Banking and Insurance Regulation, Mango Export from Bangladesh, Trade and Investment Cooperation, Economic Development Policy, Bangladesh-China Sixth and Ninth Friendship Bridge, Infrastructure Cooperation, Green and Low Carbon Development, renewal of the memorandum of understanding upon Provision of Hydrological Information of Brahmaputra River, Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Education, People to People Connectivity and Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Infrastructure Development etc. (full list attached).

Besides, as the outcomes of the visit, already executed 7 bilateral cooperations were announced. These include feasibility study of free trade agreement between Bangladesh and China, China-Bangladesh bilateral investment, modernization of digital connectivity, trial run of the Single Point Mooring with Double Pipe Line project, Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment, collaboration with China’s Shandong Agricultural University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University in Gazipur and construction of Luban Workshop in Bangladesh for expansion of technical education. (full list attached).

Later, I joined a banquet hosted by Premier Li Qiang in my honor along with high level representatives.

In the afternoon on July 10, I had a bilateral meeting with His Excellency President Xi Jinping of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It is to be noted that during the visit of His Excellency Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh in 2016, the relationship between the two countries was elevated to the level of “strategic partnership”, which upgraded the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a new level.

In the bilateral meeting on July 10, Xi Jinping mentioned 4 areas of assistance in grants, interest-free loans, concessional loans and commercial loans. Under these four packages, China agreed to provide money equal to 2 billion US dollars to Bangladesh. I expressed my gratitude to him for the Chinese assistance in the construction of various large-scale infrastructures of Bangladesh including Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu Tunnel.

Through President Xi Jinping, I called upon the Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in 800 acres of industrial land in Anwara, Chattogram. In addition to this, I requested China to invest in 100 economic zones and ICT specialized zones of Bangladesh.

Referring to China’s continued support to Bangladesh, His Excellency the Chinese President assured more investment here.

Noting the situation of forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens-Rohingyas who took shelter in Bangladesh and the context of their crisis, I sought China’s cooperation in resolving it. Thanking Bangladesh for providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas, His Excellency the President of China reiterated his commitment for support in repatriation of the Rohingyas. Both sides expressed hope that Bangladesh and China will continue to support each other at the regional and international level.
Through our fruitful discussions, the relationship between Bangladesh and China has been elevated to the level of “Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership”.

Next year is going to mark the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China. Taking the foreign policy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Friendship to all, malice towards none,” as the key policy, Bangladesh is successfully implementing its diplomatic agenda in bilateral and multilateral fields.

I believe that Bangladesh and China will continue the progress of development through mutual assistance in the context of global reality in global warming, Palestine crisis, human rights, sustainable development, United Nations etc.

We have a long-standing relationship as Asian countries not only in the economic field, but also in the traditional aspect. I think communication and cooperation in the fields of research, education, ICT, technology, culture, etc. will take the bilateral relations of Bangladesh and China forward in building a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and modern Smart Bangladesh.

My visit will be marked as a significant part of Bangladesh’s diplomatic activities.

Thank you all.

Khoda Hafez.

Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu

May Bangladesh live forever. (BSS)