DHAKA : BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the ruling BNP wants to further strengthen its geopolitical, economic, and commercial relations with China.

He said the existing relationship between the two countries had been further reinforced through the recent visit of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to China.

Mirza Fakhrul was addressing a discussion titled "Long Live Bangladesh-China Friendship" at a hotel in the city organized by the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association following the premier visit to China.
 
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat were present while Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen attended the event as the guest of honour.

President of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association and BNP chairman's adviser Advocate Nazmul Haque Nannu chaired it. 

Fakhrul said Tarique Rahman's visit to China has further energized bilateral relations while Bangladesh youths are going to China in different occasions and building relationships there.

The BNP has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Communist Party of China, said Fakhrul.

"Even during fascist Awami League regime, we maintained communication with the Communist Party of China," he said.

"The BNP wants to maintain relations with China based on geopolitical interests. We also want to maintain economic and political relations with India and the United States," Fakhrul said.

He said relations between China and Bangladesh are now at a very high level. Bangladesh seeks China's technological assistance, he said adding, "We also need China's support to provide technical and vocational education for Bangladeshi youth."

Fakhrul noted that Bangladesh would benefit from greater Chinese technological support in road and infrastructure construction, solar energy, and green energy development.

He also said, "We are optimistic. The BNP shares ideological similarities with China. We have business relations with China. We will import from China and export to China, and China will likewise import from and export to Bangladesh. Bangladesh looks to China's leadership as a force against hegemony."

Addressing the meeting, Chinese ambassador Yao Wen said China is interested in introducing its high-speed rail technology in Bangladesh in the future. 

He said it would be possible to connect Chattogram, Dhaka, and Sylhet through such a high-speed rail network.

The ambassador also assured Bangladesh of China's fullest cooperation in the repatriation of the Rohingyas. 

He said Tarique Rahman's visit had marked the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.