Hasina-Xi talks an example of relations between developing countries: Chinese envoy

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said the Johannesburg meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping showcased for one more time to the world the example of relations between developing countries.

"It was the first face-to-face meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since the latter‍‍`s formal visit to China four years ago. We have long been waiting for this meeting. It would definitely tide up new momentum for our bilateral relations," he told UNB in his first interview since arrival in Dhaka, noting that it is his sacred mission to fully implement the consensus reached by the two leaders to push the "Strategic Partnership of Cooperation" between the two countries to a new level.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the traditional friendship and good relations between Bangladesh and China "based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other‍‍`s internal affairs".

They reassured mutual support on issues of respective core interests.

Satisfied by joint achievements made under the umbrella of the Belt and Road cooperation, the two leaders vowed to further strengthen integration of development strategies, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance all-round exchanges, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

During this meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Bangladesh showed interest in strengthening cooperation with China in the bloc and other multilateral mechanisms.

The Chinese leader congratulated Bangladesh on joining the New Development Bank, and vowed to enhance coordination and cooperation with Bangladesh in multilateral affairs to safeguard international fairness and justice and serve the common interests of developing countries.

"From the minutes of the meeting, all we read is mutual support and joint cooperation, with no hint of any difference," said Yao, stressing that interactions between top leaders provide political and strategic guidance for development of bilateral relations, the importance of which would never be exaggerated.

"It is high on my agenda to facilitate more in-person visits and meetings of this kind in the days to come," he added.