Bangladeshi politicians and scholars have lauded China's achievements in the past five years, as well as contributions to global development, while placing high hopes on the country's future in the coming years.[Special Coverage]
The remarks were made as more than 2,200 delegates gather in Beijing for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which opened Wednesday.
"We were deeply pleased to see the development that has taken place in China," said retired Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Faruk Khan, who recently visited China on a nine-day tour at the invitation of the CPC.
"We are pleased to see how green development has taken care of the Chinese environment," said Khan, who is also a former commerce minister and a presidium member of the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), the ruling political party in the country.
"We are also pleased to see how poverty alleviation measures have worked successfully in a number of rural villages," he added.
Barrister Biplab Barua, deputy office secretary of the AL, said that in the past five years, China has emerged as a global leader under the dynamic leadership of Xi Jinping, president of China and general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
"As the president of China, Xi is appropriately leading China in the regional and international arenas. Under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency Xi, the positive influence of China has been increased dramatically," he said.
He said Bangladesh will also benefit in many ways from China's growth and its development initiatives like the Belt and Road.
"I do believe that the CPC led by Xi Jinping is capable enough to build a modernized socialist China with Chinese characteristics," said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon. "We are confident in his leadership dynamism to lead China forward."
Commenting on the report Xi delivered Wednesday at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress, Menon said Xi's speech reflects what people desire across the world.
China's progress is very important to developing countries like Bangladesh, added the minister, who is also chairman of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh.
"China's modern socialism will be an example for the whole world," he said.
MS Siddiqui, a professor at Dhaka's Daffodil International University, noted that Xi has correctly identified challenges to address, including stagnant global economic growth, widening wealth gaps, hotspot issues and unconventional security threats such as terrorism, major pandemics and climate change.
"I appreciate his commitment as China has taken the driver's seat in international cooperation to respond to climate change and become an important participant, contributor and torchbearer in the global endeavor to create a better natural environment over the past five years," the professor said.
"We'll be closely watching the results of the congress," said retired Lieutenant General Mahbubur Rahman, a member of the National Standing Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and also a former chief of staff of the Bangladesh army.
"We believe ... in the days to come China will play a greater role for a peaceful world," said Rahman, describing China as a great country in the world to reckon with.
He said he believes Xi will lead China to "new heights in peace, progress and prosperity," and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will "come as a major blessing for the world."
