H.E. Mr.Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui,

Hon'ble Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament,

H.E. Air Vice-Marshal( Retd) Alhaj Altaf Hossain Chowdhury,

Hon'ble Minister and M.P,

H.E.Mr.Alamgir Kabir,

Hon'ble State Minister for Women and Children Affairs,

H.E. Mr. Barkat Ullah Bulu,

Hon'ble Advisor to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs,

H.E.Lt.General M.Mahbubur Rahman,

Hon'ble Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defence Affairs and Former Chief of Army Staff

Mr. F. R. Siddiqui,

President of BCCEMCC&BCCCI,

Mr. Ali Akbar Babul

Secretary General of BCCEMCC&BCCCI,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the auspicious occasions of celebrating the 57th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, it is my pleasure and honor to attend today's discussing meeting organized by the Bangladesh-China Cultural, Economic & Mass Communication Center. First of all, I would like to express my cordially thanks to the Chief guest, special guests and other distinguished guests presenting here to grace the occasion. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks, on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Chai Xi, to the friends from BCCEMCC for hosting this meaningful gathering to collect valuable ideas for broadening and deepening all round Sino-Bangladeshi friendship and cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China has made steady economic growth and phenomenal progress since embarking upon the historic drive of reform, opening-up and modernization twenty-eight years ago. Between 1978 and 2005, China's GDP grew from US$147.3 billion to US$2.2257 trillion and the number of its poor rural population dropped from 250 million to 23 million. As the world's largest developing country, China still faces daunting challenges in its development endeavor. In the next fifteen years, we will strive to make new progress in building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and we will pursue a scientific outlook on development that makes economic and social development people-oriented, comprehensive, balanced and sustainable.

China has always cherished peace and harmony and held high the banner of peace, development and cooperation. As an Asian country, China's development requires a long-term stable international environment, especially a stable neighboring environment. China's development will certainly contribute to the prosperity of Asia. To the neighboring countries China firmly observes the guideline of "being a good neighbor and partner" and the policy of "fostering an amiable, peaceful and prosperous neighborhood", and work with other peoples in the region to create and enjoy profound friendship, mutual beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh dates back to ancient times. Early in the 11th century, Atish Dipankar, an eminent Bangladeshi Buddhist Scholar, waded through all difficulties and pains and arrived in China's Tibet region and preached Buddhism for 17 years, which is a much-told story of friendship between China and Bangladesh. In commemoration of the great contributions to the Sino-Bangladesh friendship made by Atish Dipankar, the Chinese government built a "XING YUAN" pavilion at his birthplace in Dhaka this year. Another person Zheng He, the world known voyager 600 years ago, sailed along with his fleet to the Indian Ocean seven times and mostly stopped off at the Chittagong Port. This year, the Exhibition Envoy of Peace from China, launched by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, was held separately in Dhaka and Chittagong to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's great voyages.

The friendship between China and Bangladesh has deeply rooted and stood a severe test. In last 31 years of diplomatic relations, with the joint efforts of our two governments and peoples,we have gained fruitful and genuine cooperation of mutual benefit in all fields of politics, economy, culture, social development, etc.

It is pleased to notice that economic and trade relations between China and Bangladesh have seen continuous progress with the direct care from leaders of the two countries and with the concerted efforts of the business circles. The bilateral trade volume in 2005 amounted to about US$2.5 billion with an increase of 26% over the previous year. The scale and scope of economic and technical cooperation has been continuously expanding, especially after the direct air-link between our two countries was set up in May last year. The two sides have been cooperating fruitfully in various fields such as power sector, communication, water treatment and supply, coal mining and chemical sector, etc. The Chinese government has tried its best to provide economic aids to Bangladesh, with which some important projects have been completed and some projects are under construction such as "the Sixth Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge".

We are also happy to see the great advancement of the exchange and cooperation in the cultural field between our two countries. Both cultural ministries and departments have maintained a high frequency of senior-level visits and incessant exchange of culture, art, education, sports, religion and press media. In March of this year, the Yunnan Provincial Acrobatic Troupe of China visited Dhaka and presented 5 wonderful performances to the friendly Bangladesh people. A Chinese Fine Arts team sent by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of China came to Bangladesh to attend the 12th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2006. On the other hand, the Bangladesh Cultural Performance Group organized by Natyachakra visited China successfully to attend the 2006 Kunming International Cultural & Tourism Festival in May of this year. Except for the Exhibition of Envoy of Peace from China about Zheng He, the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has also organized many other ones such as the 2nd Chinese Education Exhibition, Photo Exhibition of Harmonious China and Chinese Kite Exhibition. As for the education sector, there are 45 Bangladeshi students have got the scholarships provided by the Chinese government this year and the number is more than any other year before. Both the Chinese Department in Dhaka University and the Confucius Institute in North South University have greatly improved with the support from China of teachers and teaching equipment and have attracted more and more Bangladeshi students to learn Chinese. The Chinese coaches in the swimming, lifting, shooting sector have made their effort in teaching their Bangladeshi students and most of the students have made encouraging progress in their training and competition. All these cooperation will definitely promote the friendly relations between our two peoples.

As we harvest the fruit of our economic and cultural exchange and cooperation, I would like to pay high tribute to our friends of BCCEMCC for your positive role in helping build up a broad and solid base of friendly sensation towards China among the common Bangladeshi people. The BCCEMCC has frequently conducted various activities to introduce to Bangladeshi people a multi-faceted China, its ages-old history, spectacular culture, amicable people and the growing modernity, openness and democracy. Their relentless efforts have not only sustained a growing momentum in our relationship, but also injected vigor in each step on our way ahead. We highly salute you for your contributions and commitment in promoting the people-to-people friendship between the two countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China and Bangladesh have established a Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation featuring long-term friendship, equality and mutual benefit. Consolidating and further developing traditional Sino-Bangladesh friendly relations and exploring new area of cooperation is the set policy of the Chinese government. I am confident that with our concerted endeavor the existing friendly relations and cooperation between our two countries will as always be able to stand the test of changeable international situation and be further strengthened and developed in the days ahead. I sincerely hope that the people of China and Bangladesh will together enjoy economic development, social progress and prosperity.

May China-Bangladesh friendship continue from generation to generation!

Thank you!