Roundup: Xi's APEC speech hailed in Bangladesh as ushering in new era for Asia-Pacific, global growth

Experts in Bangladesh have hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Peru as the Chinese leader called for taking economic globalization forward with vigorous measures.

It is high time for China, the world's second largest economy, to play its role in injecting new impetus into the Asia-Pacific and global economic growth, said the experts.

They expressed the hope that China would go ahead with measures which may help other players make further contributions to the Asia-Pacific as well as global economic development.

They highly appreciated the Chinese president for calling on APEC members to boost sustainable, inclusive, green and interconnected development.

Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, said what Xi said at APEC summit is exposition of China's greatness and commitment to its responsibility to stand by the less affluent section of the society all around the world.

"We admire him and his speech at the summit aimed at injecting fresh dynamism into global growth," he said, adding that proposals made by the Chinese leader look set to usher in a new era for further economic boom of countries like Bangladesh.

He said all the major parties must continue their efforts for a new kind of economic globalization to ensure equity and justice, and steer it towards a more inclusive and mutually beneficial direction.

"Globalization has so far benefited more big multinational companies and developed countries. We would now hope what Xi proposed will be a pro-poor one," said Ahmed.

He said such economic globalization will immensely help achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change.

"It's now very clear to all that there is no alternative but to pursue an inclusive growth."

Ahmed said developed nations must take responsibility for their historic emissions and contribute more funds and transfer of technologies to the countries combating the man made disasters. "This is another area where we want China and all the major players play their roles properly."

MS Siddiqui, a professor at Dhaka's Daffodil International University, said economies of the world cannot walk back. He noted that Bangladesh is already beneficiary of globalization.

The recent growth of Bangladesh economy based on export oriented garment industry and the economy is already more than 60 percent integrated to global economy, he added.

We welcome the call for economic globalization. We are looking forward for dynamic action, said the professor.

"China should represent the interest of the developing countries as well as the least developed countries. I personally welcome Xi for calling to take economic globalization forward with vigorous measures," said Salehuddin Ahmed, an adjunct professor of Bangladesh's two leading universities, Brac and IUB.

He said economic globalization must take place while keeping the interest of the bottom 60 percent population of the world, specially of the development countries.

The APEC meeting, hosted by Peru, took place Saturday and Sunday in Lima under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development." Endit