Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Beijing on Wednesday morning, pledging to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties nearly half a century ago, China and Bangladesh have always respected and supported each other, adding that bilateral relations have developed steadily and healthily with solid progress on cooperation in various fields, which has greatly improved the well-being of the two peoples.

He said China is willing to work with Bangladesh to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and push for more practical results in bilateral partnership.

Li pointed out that China will always give priority to developing relations with Bangladesh in its neighborhood diplomacy, and deepen mutual understanding and give firm support for Bangladesh on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

He said China stands ready to further align its development strategies with Bangladesh, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen cooperation on infrastructure construction, promote optimized and balanced development of bilateral trade, deepen cooperation on new energy, digital economy and industrial parks, and promote cultural, tourism, youth and sub-national exchanges to add more impetus to the two countries' respective modernization efforts.

China supports Chinese enterprises in strengthening industrial investment cooperation with Bangladesh and working together to enhance the resilience and safety of the industrial chain and supply chain, he added.

"We hope that Bangladesh will provide a good environment for Chinese enterprises to operate in Bangladesh," Li said, adding that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Bangladesh in multilateral areas, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and better safeguard international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries.

Hasina expressed appreciation for China's valuable support over the years, saying that China has made remarkable development achievements and become an example for other developing countries.

Bangladesh firmly supports and abides by the one-China policy and supports China's efforts to safeguard its core interests, she said, adding that, as next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Bangladesh is willing to maintain closer high-level exchanges with China, enhance the exchange of experience in governance and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on economy, trade, infrastructure and finance.

She said Bangladesh will continue to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen cooperation with China on international multilateral affairs, push for further all-round development of bilateral relations and safeguard world peace and stability.

After the talks, they jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on policy exchange, economy, trade and investment, digital economy, inspection and quarantine, health care, education and media.

The two sides announced the completion of the joint feasibility study on a China-Bangladesh free-trade agreement and agreed to start negotiations on upgrading the bilateral investment agreement.

The two sides agreed to designate 2025 as the China-Bangladesh People-to-People Exchange Year.