Xi Jinping seeks to connect Chinese dream with ‘Sonar Bangla’

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DHAKA, March 17, 2021 (BSS) – Chinese President Xi Jinping today sought to connect the “Chinese dream” with that of “Sonar Bangla”, envisaged by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as he sent a video message to mark Father of the Nation’s birth centenary celebrations and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence.

“The Chinese dream of great national renewal can well connect with the ‘Sonar Bangla’ dream” as both the countries are now at crucial development stage, he said.

The video message was run during grand ceremony at the National Parade Square joined by President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with visiting Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Jinping said the Bangladesh founder’s dream for “Sonar Bangla” was still galvanizing the country’s 160 million people in their pursuit of national rejuvenation.

The Chinese President also noted with appreciation Bangabandhu’s principle of “friendship to all and malice towards none” principle, which laid out remains the bedrock of Bangladesh’s foreign policy.

He said Bangabandhu founded Bangladesh 50 years ago while described him as someone great who devoted his whole life to his country and people.

Jinping said Bangladesh’s founding father was an old and good friend of the Chinese people as Bangabandhu forged friendships with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, and other Chinese leaders of that old generation during his two visits to China in 1952 and 1957.

“We must always remember what the elder generation of leaders did for growth of China-Bangladesh relations, and shall pass on the baton of the China-Bangladesh friendship to future generations,” he said.

Jinping said the ancient Silk Road stood as a witness to a friendship that spans over the millennia while during 2016 Bangladesh visit he and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina upgraded the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation.

The Chinese President noted that Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to sign with China an intergovernmental document on Belt and Road cooperation while rthis “practical cooperation has delivered real benefits to the people of both countries”.

The Chinese president placed high importance on growing China’s relations with Bangladesh and take the strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height.

Jinping said Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership focused on reform and development and entered a “fast lane of growth” while “as a friendly neighbor, China rejoices at a prosperous and progressing Bangladesh”.

“Since China and Bangladesh established diplomatic ties 46 years ago, our two sides have treated each other with mutual respect and as equals,” he said adding that the two nations have supported each other and made progress together.

He thanked the government and people of Bangladesh for donating a large number of medical supplies to China at the height of its fight against COVID-19.

“Since COVID-19 struck, the two countries have stood together during these trying times,” he said.