Dhaka, Beijing agree on more trade in local currency, aid Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh and China have agreed to enhance cooperation in financial regulation and encouraged increased use of local currency settlement in bilateral trade, according to a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's three-day official visit to Beijing.
Both countries shared the view that early repatriation is the only way to resolve the issue concerning the displaced people from the Rakhine State of Myanmar, who have taken shelter in Bangladesh. The two sides called on all parties in Myanmar to bridge their differences through dialogue and consultation and underscored the need for the cessation of hostilities in Rakhine State as soon as possible.
Sheikh Hasina returned home early Thursday after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang.
Bangladesh and China agreed to strengthen coordination in international and multilateral affairs, expressing readiness to align positions further and build broader consensus in multilateral processes concerning international peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian affairs, climate change, energy transition, and environmental protection, to safeguard the common interests of developing countries jointly.
Dhaka welcomed Chinese banks to establish branches in Bangladesh, and vice versa.
The two sides discussed various aspects of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) put forward by President Xi Jinping. Beijing is ready to share its experience on GDI issues with the Bangladesh side. It also presented the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) to the Bangladesh side to ensure peace, development, and shared prosperity for all.
The two countries lauded their strategic partnership of cooperation established in 2016 and agreed that the China-Bangladesh relationship has reached a new height. Leaders of the two countries agreed to stay committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, foster greater synergy between the development strategies of the two countries, advance Belt and Road cooperation, and elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
They reaffirmed their commitment to mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and to mutual understanding and support on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns.
The Chinese side firmly supports Bangladesh in maintaining peace and stability, realising development goals as envisioned under Vision 2041, non-interference in its internal affairs, and independently choosing a development path suited to its national conditions.
Bangladesh reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle and its position that the government of the People's Republic of China represents the whole of China, and that Taiwan is part of China. Bangladesh supports China on issues pertaining to China's core interests and China's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Early Rohingya repatriation
China has pledged to continue to provide support to the "best of its abilities, including providing a platform for dialogue" to help achieve early repatriation of the displaced people to Myanmar. The Bangladesh side expressed its appreciation to China and requested China to continue playing a constructive role in facilitating dialogue for the peaceful settlement of the issue concerning the displaced people from Rakhine State.
The Chinese side commended efforts made over the years by Bangladesh to provide humanitarian assistance for the displaced people and expressed support for Bangladesh and Myanmar to find a mutually acceptable solution through friendly consultations and following the existing arrangements on repatriation between the countries.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, and not a single Rohingya has been repatriated since the influx in 2017.
