Roundup: Bangladeshi officials look to China to bolster country's development

Bijoy Bhattacharjee, a senior Bangladeshi official, recently led a delegation of his colleagues to China under a "Training and Exchange Program".

"Our visit to China was a wonderful experience," Bhattacharjee, an additional secretary of the Bangladeshi Cabinet Division, said at a seminar on Monday night, which was arranged to brief another team of 24 Bangladeshi senior officials who are all set to visit China this month.

"We discovered a new China which is different from story books," said Bhattacharjee.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of the People's Republic of China and your good office, the embassy, for creating this opportunity."

Md Ashraf Shameem, another additional secretary of the Bangladeshi Cabinet Division, also joined Bhattacharjee in showing his appreciation for China and commenting on its remarkable developments.

"The tour was indeed a very nice experience," he said, adding that China has certainly developed a lot.

He went on to explain that such kind of visits will pave the way for Bangladeshi officials to understand China's administrative units and their systems to further contribute to Bangladesh's development.

"Such visits of officials will also immensely contribute to further bolster Bangladesh-China bilateral relations and trade, widen economic cooperation and boost investment flow, as well as reduce the bilateral trade imbalance," Md Ashraf Shameem said.

Officials have said the modern reincarnation of the ancient silk road, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, has immense potential and will create myriad opportunities to transform the lives of the people in the region and beyond.

"We look forward to sharing the prosperity. We also strongly believe it will rewrite the history of people's development and well-being pursuits," said Bhattacharjee.

"It is also really important to pay attention to policy coordination in China and we are mindful and take note of that," he said.

Officials here have said that Chinese President Xi Jinping in his recent visit to Bangladesh and in high-level talks with Bangladeshi leaders including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, spoke of building a bridge of friendship and harvesting golden fruits.

"We are a lesser-developed country and are just approaching expansion. Hence we welcome Chinese investment in Bangladesh," said Bhattacharjee.

Speaking at the seminar, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang stressed the need for further cooperation in different areas.

In response to the ambassador, Bhattacharjee said, "We stand ready to approach all specific proposals with the highest consideration."

"Our visit to China has broadened our understanding about the brand 'China' and we hope this will inform all levels of bureaucracy and guide policy frameworks."

Speaking at the seminar, Senior Secretary of Bangladesh's Ministry of Public Administration, Md. Mozammel Haque Khan, said such kind of visits help officials to learn and gather ideas to spearhead the next course of Bangladesh's development action.

"I am very happy to learn that China considers Bangladesh to be the fifth fastest-growing economy in Asia."

"If we can follow Chinese leadership, Chinese planning, education systems and courses China offers to our officials during their visits, our officials can get plenty of inspiration."

Deputy Secretary Naima Hossain who is visiting China on April 18 as part of a 24-member team of senior government officials is elated to have the opportunity to see China.

"I just look forward to seeing China and gaining knowledge which we can use in development activities in Bangladesh," said Hossain. Endit