Bangladesh needs to make all-out efforts to further cement its ties with China in every possible sphere for mutual benefits, discussants opined at a seminar on Monday.
Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (ML) or Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) organized seminar titled "A Discussion on Strategic Importance of Bangladesh-China Relations."
A number of Bangladesh politicians and intellectuals, among others, joined the seminar and praised China's economic growth.
They said relation with China was a must to ensure further cultural, economic and social progresses in Bangladesh and elsewhere South Asia which still lags behind South East Asain in development.
Efforts to deepen relation should not be the exclusive domain of the governments, but should include a range of people, including politicians, diplomats and officials, students, business people and academics, they said.
Speaking at the seminar as a chief guest, Bangladeshi Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said two countries cemented ties in the last 40 years.
Terming China as a great friend and an important trade partner of Bangladesh, Inu, also president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), an ally of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling grand alliance, said Bangladesh is keenly interested in advancing on path of development by joining hands with China.
"We expect continuous support from China so that we can advance along with our friend (China)," he said.
Ma Mingqiang, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, said the relationship between Bangladesh and China dates back more than 2, 000 years.
He said China is extending all-out support to Bangladesh's efforts to develop as part of its wish to"grow together"with the neighbors.
In his keynote paper, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (ML) Secretary General Dilip Barua said "We should have a strategic partnership with China for our national interest and development to a new level."
"This will create a positive message not only to the people of our two countries but also to the international community that our two nations are willing to take a strategic and long term view of our relationship so as to contribute to Asia and the world," said Barua, who is also a former Bangladeshi industries minister.
