Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Saturday held talks with Speaker of the Bangladeshi National Assembly (parliament) Jamiruddin Sircar on cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.
Zhu said Sircar has long been committed to the development of the Sino-Bangladeshi friendship and that he believed the
Bangladesh parliament and other parliament members will continue to work for enhancing the bilateral friendly relations.
Since China and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations 26 years ago, the bilateral ties have developed steadily and have withstood the capricious changes on the international arena, said the Chinese premier.
"We believe the friendly ties between China and Bangladesh will gain greater development in the new century with the concerted efforts of both sides," Zhu added.
The contacts between the parliaments of the two countries are an important part of the Sino-Bangladeshi friendship, and it is hoped that more Bangladeshi parliamentarians will visit China so as to increase understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Zhu said.
Expressing warm welcome to Zhu's visit to Bangladesh, Sircar said the Bangladeshi people admired the remarkable progress of China in its social and economic development.
China and Bangladesh have enjoyed a history of long-standing friendship and the bilateral relations have witnessed smooth development, he said.
There are frequent contacts between the parliaments of China and Bangladesh, he noted, adding that he believed the Sino-Bangladeshi friendship will open a new page in the new century.
(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2002)
