On 10th November, 2004, H.E. Chai Xi, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the People's Republic of Bangladesh attended the first get-together and Iftar of the members of the newly elected council of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association. H.E. Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Honourable Speaker and H.E. Mr. Akhtar Hamid Siddique, Honourable Deputy Speaker of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad attended the function as Chief Guest and Special Guest. Members of the newly elected council of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association, diplomats of Chinese Embassy and friends from various fields of Bangladesh participated in the event. Enclosed herewith is the address made by H.E. Mr. Chai Xi.

 

H.E. Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar,

Hon'ble Speaker of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad

H.E. Mr. Akhtar Hamid Siddique,

Hon'ble Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad

H.E. Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain,

Hon'ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare and

President of BCFA,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, it is a great pleasure for me and my colleagues to attend the first get-together of the members of the newly elected council of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association. First of all, I would like, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, to extend our heartfelt felicitation to new council of BCFA.

BCFA has a long history of traditional friendship with China. Dating back to the period of East Pakistan, Pakistan-China Friendship Association, the predecessor of BCFA, made significant contributions for maintenance and development of Sino-Pakistan all weather friendly relations. During the last 29 years, thanks to outstanding leadership of late President Mirza Gholam Hafiz and H.E. Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and with common efforts taken by generations of General Secretaries and council members, BCFA has frequently conducted various activities to introduce China to Bangladesh people. BCFA always firmly stands along with the Chinese people in significant international issues and makes unremitting efforts in enhancing friendship between the two peoples. I would like to particularly recall our old friend, the late President of BCFA H.E. Mr. Mirza Gholam Hafiz. As everybody knows, on 4th May 1994, Mr. Hafiz was conferred the title of honor of "Friendship Ambassador" by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for his consistent valuable contributions for the enhancement of the people to people friendship and friendly co-operation between our two countries. We sincerely cherish the memory of late President Hafiz as an old friend of the Chinese people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Contact and cooperation between different peoples are playing an increasingly important role in strengthening relations between different countries. We are pleased to see that there exists a broad and solid base of friendly sentiment towards China among the common Bangladeshi people. This is the result of unremitting and arduous efforts from lots of Bangladeshi friends with breadth of vision and wisdom for the Sino-Bangladesh friendship. As a nongovernmental friendly organization, BCFA is composed of friendly people from various walks of life including honorable ministers, MPs, retired governmental officials, lawyers, teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, artists and social activists. All the friends wholeheartedly make their contributions to enhance our understanding and friendship through their work and personal social influence. Here, I would like to mention with thanks the close cooperation extended to the Chinese side by H.E. Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, when he was Chairman of the 56th World Health Assembly in 2003. He firmly and skillfully crushed the Taiwan authorities' attempt to jostle into WHO. This fully reflects his sagacity and profound friendship towards China. H.E. Dr. Hossain has been one of the main leaders of BCFA for several decades. I firmly believe that under his excellent leadership, the new council of BCFA will endeavor to unite more Bangladesh friends to consolidate and further develop the time-tested traditional Sino-Bangladesh friendship.

China and Bangladesh are close neighbors. The traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh dates back to ancient times and is deeply rooted in the hearts of our two peoples. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we have had fruitful and genuine cooperation of mutual benefit in all fields of politics, economy, military and culture, and all along given each other understanding, support and close coordination in international and regional affairs. Next year will mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. The two sides will observe the special occasion in a befitting manner. I am confident that with our joint efforts the already existing friendly relations and co-operation between China and Bangladesh will be able to stand the test of changeable international situation and be further strengthened and developed in the coming days.

Finally, I wish H.E. Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and all friends present here good health!

May BCFA enjoy solidarity, prosperity and advancement!

May Sino-Bangladesh friendship continue from generation to generation!

Eid Mubarak! Thank you all!