PM’s China, Malaysia visits set benchmark for Bangladesh’s global engagement: FM

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent official visits to Malaysia and China have set a ‘benchmark’ not only for Bangladesh’s politics but also for the country’s future relations with the rest of the world.

Khosru made the remarks while taking part in the discussion on a thanksgiving motion unanimously adopted by the Jatiya Sangsad in recognition of the “extraordinary success” of the prime minister’s official visits to Malaysia and China from June 21-26.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir moved the motion at the beginning of the day’s sitting.

The motion was later adopted unanimously after Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, put it to a voice vote. Earlier, the day’s sitting resumed with the Speaker in the chair.

Taking part in the discussion, the finance minister said the prime minister’s visits were firmly rooted in Bangladesh’s foreign policy principles.

“Our relations with every country will be based on mutual respect, mutual interest, non-interference and strategic autonomy.

The prime minister’s visit has demonstrated that commitment,” he said.

He said the prime minister had reaffirmed the benchmark that has traditionally guided the BNP’s foreign policy.

“He has once again confirmed the benchmark for Bangladesh’s relations with other countries-a principle that has always been central to BNP politics and was established by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman- that our relations with every country will be based on these standards,” he added.

Highlighting the significance of the Malaysia visit, the finance minister said Bangladesh has substantial interests in the Malaysian labour market, energy cooperation, trade and investment.

Regarding China, he said discussions focused on infrastructure development and expanding bilateral trade.

“China is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, and discussions were also held on how Bangladesh can narrow the existing trade gap by increasing its exports to the Chinese market,” he said.

The finance minister also said the prime minister had introduced a new political culture in Bangladesh.

“When he departed for and returned from the visits, there were no thousands of people gathered at the airport to accord him a reception. This marks a major ‘cultural change’ in Bangladesh’s politics. The prime minister has set a new standard for what the country’s future political culture should look like,” he added.

New chapter in bilateral cooperation: Fakhrul

Fakhrul said Prime Minister Tarique’s visits to Malaysia and China have opened a new horizon of bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.

“The visits of Prime Minister and leader of the House Tarique Rahman, as the head of a democratic government formed through a long anti-fascist movement, have an immense significance for Bangladesh,” the minister said.

He added, “Through these visits, Bangladesh’s relations with Malaysia and China have become stronger, and a new horizon of bilateral cooperation has been opened based on mutual respect and mutual interests.”

Fakhrul said Bangladesh and China signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit.

He added that fruitful high-level meetings between the two sides laid the foundation for positive progress in economic cooperation, investment, trade expansion and efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The minister also said the prime minister had set a positive example in the country’s political culture by ending the long-standing practice of colourful receptions before departing for and after returning from official foreign visits.

“Our leader has already established a strong position both nationally and internationally. The people of Bangladesh believe that he is working firmly for the welfare of the people and creating new precedents by abandoning old negative political practices,” he said.