China sees steady, rapid growth in military ties with BD

Dhaka, July 25 – Defence Attaché of China in Bangladesh Senior Colonel Liu Fangjian on Thursday highlighted the “steady and rapid progress” in Bangladesh-China military cooperation in recent years.
He mentioned about frequent high-level visits, continuously deepening pragmatic cooperation and fruitful cooperation in personnel exchange and training.The Defence Attaché, while addressing a reception at the Embassy, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a successful and fruitful visit to China this month, which maintained new “momentum of cooperation” between the two armed forces.
He mentioned that after President Xi Jinping’s historical visit to Bangladesh in October 2016, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangladesh hosted the reception in celebration of the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Over 300 guests, including high-ranking officers and officials, from Bangladesh as well as diplomats, military attachés and scholars attended the reception.
In his welcome speech, Senior Colonel Liu Fangjian reviewed the PLA’s achievements over the past 92 years, and its contribution to the world peace and stability.
He introduced that the PLA, under the leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC) chaired by President Xi Jinping, had implemented significant military reforms to strengthen its armed forces, especially in terms of system and policy, and civil-military integration in the new era.
He said China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. “China is a major contributor to the UN Peacekeeping budget and the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.” – UNB