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China firmly believes that Bangladesh would always uphold its independence as well as reject the Cold War mentality and bloc politics for ensuring peace and development in the region.
Liu Jinsong, director general (DG) of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese foreign ministry, expressed the opinion in a meeting with Bangladesh Ambassador to China Mahbub Uz Zaman on Wednesday, according to the Chinese ministry.
In the meeting, Liu Jinsong pointed out that the logic behind the US Indo-Pacific strategy, AUKUS, the Quad grouping, and the latest Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is the US's?"centrism" and "exceptionalism".
As a result, it would only bring disgrace, and at the same time undermine the regional cooperation framework and create?bloc confrontation.
Unipolar hegemony wins no support, block confrontation has no future, and building "small yards with high walls" and decoupling from or cutting off supply chains would bring no good to?anyone, the DG mentioned.
"China believes that the countries in the region, including Bangladesh, will bear in mind own fundamental interests and those of the region, uphold their independence, reject the Cold War mentality and bloc politics, safeguard true multilateralism, and defend the hard-won environment for peace and development in the region."
The call comes just a year after Beijing publicly requested Dhaka not to join the Quad alliance, comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia.
Exchanging his views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues, Liu Jinsong spoke highly of the solidarity of China and Bangladesh in fighting the COVID pandemic.
He also appreciated the Bangladesh government and people's understanding and support for China's pandemic prevention policy.
The DG added that China is ready to work with Bangladesh to uphold the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to advance the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, and promote implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.
The two countries would expand cooperation in various fields, such as post-COVID economic recovery, poverty alleviation, climate change, digital economy, and green development, to deliver more benefits to their people, he opined.
The Bangladesh envoy to Beijing said the country is guided by the policy?of "friendship to all, malice to none" - put forward by its Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh is committed to developing friendly relations with other countries and it opposes bloc confrontation and a "new Cold War".
Mahbub Uz Zaman said Bangladesh government follows?a people-centered approach, and considers economic development its top priority.?
The envoy added that Bangladesh is ready to upgrade economic and trade cooperation with China. He also invited more Chinese enterprises to invest and operate here to promote the major projects between the two countries to boost economic development.
He spoke highly of China's pandemic prevention policies and achievements.