Speakers at a roundtable at Dhaka University (DU) on Monday said that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is helping Bangladesh's construction development.
They expressed the remarks during a roundtable titled "China-Bangladesh Relations and The Belt and Road Initiative" organised by the Centre for East Asia Foundation (CEAF), a non-profit and non-political independent study circle, at the Abdullah Farque Conference Hall of DU's Faculty of Business Studies.
The speakers opined that Bangladesh is a proud member of BRI and can play a significant role in the project's advancement. BRI cooperation embraces the historical trend of economic globalisation, responds to the call for improving the global governance system, and meets people's longing for a better life.
DU Business Faculty Dean Professor Muhammad Abdul Moyeen was the chief guest, while former ambassador and CEAF Chairman Mahbub Uz Zaman chaired the event. Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) Director Dr Wang Jian also attended the programme.
Dayal Kumar Barua, Chairman of Bangladesh China Silk Road Foundation, Md Mizanur Rahman Hawlader, treasurer of Bangladesh China Silk Road Foundation were present at the programme.
Professor Moyeen said, "Bangladesh, as a member of the BRI cooperation alliance of China, has already started benefitting from it, including China's financial investment and contractual construction obligations."
He added that the BRI's investment will continue to contribute to the development initiative for Bangladesh's future competitiveness and will help achieve the vision of Smart Bangladesh 2041.
In his welcome remarks, CEAF Executive Director Nasim Mahmud said, "China has always extended its firm support to Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and opposing external interference."
China-Bangladesh relations are based on mutual respect and win-win outcome, he opined.
Mahbub said, "I am convinced that under the BRI framework, more and more Chinese enterprises and people will devote themselves to the goal of Smart Bangladesh, proposing Chinese solutions and making even more contributions to the realisation of Vision 2041.
Prof Dr Rakibul Hoque, Barrister Masudur Rahman, Dr Fahmida Mustafir, Mazadul Hoque, and members of the Chinese delegation also spoke during the programme.
