Editorial:
President Xi Jinping congratulated Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu on his assuming the presidency of Bangladesh, expressing his readiness to carry forward the traditional bilateral friendship and promote the high-quality building of the Belt and Road.
Xi noted that China and Bangladesh, as traditional friends and neighbors, have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and offered each additional support over issues concerning respective core interests since establishing bilateral diplomatic relations in 1975.
He added that the two countries had set an example for countries to get along and conduct win-win cooperation.
The president stressed that he attaches great importance to developing relations with Bangladesh and is willing to make concerted efforts with his Bangladeshi counterpart to advance the bilateral strategic partnership and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.
Chuppu, 74, was declared the president-elect of Bangladesh by the country’s Election Commission in February, replacing Mohammad Abdul Hamid. He was elected unopposed after no other candidate was put forward.
China is the largest trading partner of Bangladesh, with bilateral trading volume growing by 10.7 percent year-on-year to $27.79 billion in 2022, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The South Asian country mainly imports textiles, mechanical and electrical products, cement, fertilizers from China, and a buyer of leather and textile products from Bangladesh.
A notice sent from the Chinese embassy informed that the message contained greetings from President Xi Jinping himself, the government, and the people of China.
Wishing the people of Bangladesh peace and prosperity in the letter, Xi Jinping mentioned that Bangladesh and China are friendly neighbors.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both countries have respected each other, maintained relations based on equality, and cooperated. The friendly relationship between the two countries is an example for all, said the letter.
Mohammed Shahabuddin has taken oath as the 22nd president of Bangladesh on Monday.
Dr. Fakhrul Islam Babu
Chief Editor
Ethnic Minorities News Hong Kong