International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Gowher Rizvi has said Bangladesh’s relation with India and China is really important for making the country a prosperous one.
“Bangladesh is extremely fortunate to find countries like China and India as its neighbor. Our relation with these two countries is really important for making a prosperous Bangladesh,” he said while addressing the launching ceremony of a magazine “The Belt and Road” at Dhaka University on Saturday (Apr 20).
The Centre for East Asia Foundation (CEAF), a non-profit and non-political independent study circle, has launched — the first Chinese Magazine in the history of Bangladesh — “The Belt and Road” exclusively covering the highlights of the great vision of “The Belt and Road Initiative” at a function at the auditorium of DU Institute of Modern Languages, said a CEAF press release.
Dr Gowher also said bilateral relationship with China is already trusted and it is destined.
Charge d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Chen Wei addressed the function as the distinguished guest while former Ambassador Muhammad Azizul Haque and Prof Dr Delwar Hossain of DU International Relations Department addressed the launching programme as special guests.
Former ambassador Selina Mohsin chaired and moderated the programme.
Along with the publication, a website dedicated to “The Belt and Road Initiative’ was also launched. The publication will have Bengali and English section to cater to wider audience.
CEAF Executive Director Nasim Mahmmud said in his welcome address that the traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh by land across the Himalayas and along the silk routes date back to over 2000 years.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China in 2013, is a novel initiative for the world with many positive spillovers in terms of trade, social and cultural integration for over 4 billion people. The initiative aims to strengthen infrastructure, trade and investment links between China and more than 65 other countries.
The Centre for East Asia Foundation have decided to highlight and popularize the great vision of China, “The Belt and Road Initiative”, among policy makers and stakeholders as well as general populace of Bangladesh.
The speakers at the launching programme made remarks that Bangladesh is a proud member of this majestic initiative and it can play a significant role for the advancement of the epic project.
There have been large-scale investments in Bangladesh on infrastructure development that were catalyzed by the historic visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh in October, 2016, where he committed to provide $40billion as investment and aids for Bangladesh.
The programme was also attended by many diplomats, academies, former military and civil bureaucrats, ambassadors and members from different print and electronic media.