Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Tuesday in Dhaka said that China-initiated trilateral cooperation with Pakistan and Bangladesh was focused on economic development and improvement of the peoples of these countries and it was not directed against any third country.
鈥楥hina looks forward to making joint efforts with Bangladesh and Pakistan to solidly鈥俛dvance the trilateral cooperation and achieve tangible results,鈥� the envoy said at a talk organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh at the National Press Club.
He said that any country in the South Asia could join the cooperation initiative for cooperation in 12 areas also including education and environment.聽
鈥楾he purpose of trilateral cooperation initiative from China is to discuss cooperation among these countries in South Asia with focus on economic development and livelihoods of the peoples鈥he cooperation is not directed against a third country,鈥� the envoy said.
Responding to a question, he said that Beijing briefed all diplomats from South Asia on the initiative following a China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral foreign office meeting held on June 19.
The diplomat said that the three sides agreed to advance trilateral cooperation based on the principles of good-neighbourliness, equality, friendship, inclusiveness, multilateralism and common development.
The China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral foreign office meeting was held in Kunming in the Yunnan province of China in a new initiative for regional cooperation for 鈥榩eace, stability, development and prosperity鈥�.
Chinese vice foreign minister Sun Weidong, then Bangladeshi acting foreign secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Pakistani additional secretary (Asia Pacific) Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the trilateral meeting while Pakistani foreign secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link.
鈥楥hina supports the interim government of Bangladesh in its governance鈥俛nd backs the鈥俥fforts of Bangladesh to鈥俬old the general election smoothly and successfully and to pursue鈥俛 development path that suits its national conditions,鈥� Yao Wen, however, said in his written speech at the DCAB Talk.
Responding to another question, he said China鈥檚 relations with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami were hindered in the last 10 years during the previous regime.
Without giving further details, he said the high-level delegates from BNP and Jamaat recently聽 recently visited China as efforts were now underway to improve their relations with major parties.
Touching upon the United States reciprocal tariff, he said that since the Trump administration took office, the U.S. has rolled out a series of unilateral tariffs, including so-called 鈥榬eciprocal tariffs鈥欌�攁 textbook case of trade bullying.
鈥楾hese measures blatantly violate WTO rules, disrupt global industrial and supply chains, and hinder world economic recovery. They are irresponsible, unpopular, and unsustainable. Worse still, the U.S. is now weaponizing tariffs to strong-arm others into so-called reciprocal tariff negotiations. This is nothing but hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying disguised as reciprocity,鈥� the envoy mentioned.
Mentioning that the US imposes鈥俛 35鈥俻ercent鈥倀ariff on Bangladesh, one of the least developed countries, he said that it is neither reasonable nor ethical.
鈥榃e respect Bangladesh鈥檚 right to resolve trade disputes with the U.S. through equal dialogue and support it in defending its legitimate interests,鈥� he said.
DCAB president AKM Moinuddin and general secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.
