The Chinese ambassador Li Jun has called upon the leaders of the ruling Awami League and the Opposition BNP to start a ‘face-to-face dialogue’, saying ‘it would be of great help.’
It was indeed rare for the Chinese to make such appeal because they traditionally avoid interference in internal affairs of other countries.
But the regional power eyes a deeper relationship with Bangladesh, a scheme its Premier Li Keqiang hinted at during his recent visit to India.
Ambassador Li Jun made this appeal during a press briefing organised for Chinese naval hospital ship ‘Peace Ark’, now in Bangladesh on a seven day goodwill visit.
He said he made this appeal because “stability is needed for the development” of a developing country like Bangladesh.
“As a close and traditional friend, we expect Bangladesh enjoy stability and development”.
The ambassador said he already had made his effort and would continue for the “face to face talks” through their “good friends” in the both parties, but said “they (political leaders) have wisdom to solve their problems”.
“Finally it is for the people of Bangladesh to resolve their own problems”.
China is “a sincere friend” of Bangladesh in “promoting social and economic development,” he said.
Bangladesh’s two major parties are at loggerheads over the next poll-time administration after the current government scrapped the caretaker government provisions.
Foreign diplomats have long been calling for dialogue between the two parties. China joined the call Wednesday.
The envoy termed the disagreement between the two parties ‘normal’, but said “this should be resolved through dialogue and talks”.
He, however, believed two parties had already been engaged “in some kind of dialogue through media channel every day”.
He also found many similarities between the two parties often regard as arch-rivals.
“All want fair and transparent elections where all parties will participate,” he said. “Even no one disagree to have elections”.
China established diplomatic relations with Bangladesh more than 40 years ago with military cooperation as its foundation.
It is Bangladesh’s biggest source of imports after India.
Bangladesh buys most of its military equipment from China. The Army bought their first-ever fourth-generation Main Battle Tanks (MBT)-2000 from China.
The ambassador said the visit of the hospital ship twice in Bangladesh showed that “Chinese government lays great importance to its relationship with Bangladesh”.
He said the two-way trade was also growing and now close to $ 10billion.
“Bangladesh’s export to China is growing much faster than China,” he said and that there was ‘no problem’ in the Sino-Bangla relationship. “There is no conflict of interest”.
“Only thing is how we can expand the relationship”.
He also asked Bangladesh’s businesses to expand its export basket using full trade advantages China offered. “At least 4,700 Bangladeshi items are getting zero tariff access in China,” he said.
He said the hospital ship with its effort to disaster relief, humanitarian services and medical help had been disseminating the idea of ‘harmony in the sea’ that he said was to ensure security for everyone’s benefits.
The 300-bed eight storied hospital ship is equipped with facilities like a major hospital. It has eight operation theatres and nearly 2,500 sets of medical devices of 217 types.
The Mission Commander Real Admiral Shen Hao said “peace, harmony, health and collaboration” were the issues the deal with.
Despite global economic crisis, Chinese economy remained stable and witnessed 7.6 percent growth in the first half of this year.
Chinese government also created more than 700 million jobs in the first half of this year, the envoy Li Jun said.
Source:Bd news24
