Bangladesh and China on Sunday signed four MoUs and
agreements to boost cooperation between the two countries.
The cooperation documents were signed after an hour-long
bilateral meeting between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi
and his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen at a city hotel.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam briefed
the media after the bilateral meeting and said details of the signed documents
will be shared with the media later.
Disaster management, cultural exchange (renewal) and marine
science cooperation are among the signed documents.
He said the Chinese Foreign Minister is pleased to see
Bangladesh’s socioeconomic progress under the leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.
Both sides discussed bilateral, regional and global issues
in the meeting with a hope to “elevate” the relationship between the two
countries to a “new level”.
Minister Wang laid emphasis on joint collaboration in the
future and appreciated Bangladesh’s position on “One-China” policy.
“We must stop it (worsening situation in Rohingya camp),”
Shahriar said while responding to a question on the Rohingya issue.
He said the Chinese side said they are committed and they
will remain committed and will do their best to find the solution to the
Rohingya crisis.
China has said his country is sincerely working to find a
solution to the Rohingya crisis terming Myanmar a difficult country to handle.
“Myanmar is a difficult country. We are sincerely working to
resolve the crisis and will continue our efforts in the future. He (Minister
Wang) stated it very clearly. It’s a difficult country and difficult to
handle,” Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told reporters quoting
the Chinese Foreign Minister as saying.
Razzaque, who received the Chinese Foreign Minister upon his
arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, conveyed to
Minister Wang that Bangladesh is unable to bear such a big burden as the
country has limited resources.
The Agriculture Minister said there is an impact on social
security and social stability of the country due to the presence of over 1.1
million Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
“It’s a big threat to our national security,” he told the
Chinese Foreign Minister after welcoming him to Bangladesh.
Minister Wang visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at
Dhanmondi-32 on Saturday evening and paid tribute to Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He signed visitors’ book there.
Shahriar Alam received the Chinese Foreign Minister at the
Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Minister Wang is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina before leaving Dhaka.
He will leave for Mongolia wrapping up his less than 24
hours visit to Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his meeting with Momen said
all Bangladeshi students will return to China from today visas will be issued
accordingly, said Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Hualong Yan.
Foreign Minister Momen saw Wang off at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport at 10:45am Sunday.
- UNB
Chinese FM visit Dhaka Beijing
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ABG Bashundhara Bashundhara Group Sayem Sobhan Anvir
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The government has issued a notice saying that there will be
no age limit for intending hajj pilgrims this year.
The notice signed by Deputy Secretary of Religious Affairs Ministry Abul Kashem Muhammad Shahin was issued Monday.
It said persons below 12 years old will be able to perform hajj this year.
The Hajj will be held on June 27 this year subject to a moon sighting.
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Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab
Uddin today said Bangladesh requires US$ 373 billion to implement its National
Adaptation Plan (NAP) in the next 27 years, with US$ 8.5 billion per year as
new and additional finance.
"For the full implementation of the (Nationally determined contributions) NDC targets of Bangladesh, it needs US$ 143 billion from international support...we need to ensure easy and quick access to climate finance as well," he told the first Copenhagen Climate Ministerial Meeting held at Eigtveds Pakhus in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to a message received here.
Shahab Uddin said the developed countries must keep their commitments of mobilising US$ 100 billion annually from this year to support actions to tackle climate change in the most vulnerable countries with an equal balance between adaptation and mitigation.
The most vulnerable developing countries urgently require new, predictable, and adequate grant-based public financing for adaptation beyond voluntary donor assistance, he said.
The minister said the financial mechanism must be settled for the effective implementation of the NAP.
He urged the developed countries to double adaptation finance to support developing countries in their efforts to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.
In line with the position of the LDC group, he said, Bangladesh expects a more proactive role from the developed countries to ensure the ambitious contribution of climate finance towards grant-based adaptation support to the most climate-vulnerable countries.
Shahab Uddin said Parties must reach consensus on several critical issues regarding the 'Mitigation Work Programme' to reduce global green house gas (GHG) emissions by 43 percent by 2030 aiming to keep 1.5 degree Celsius within reach.
The Mitigation Work Programme should facilitate creating enabling conditions for the effective implementation of mitigation actions in the most vulnerable developing countries through the mobilisation of adequate financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building, he said.
Earlier, the minister joined a view-exchange meeting with the Bangladeshi community held in Bangladesh Embassy in Denmark with AKM Shahidul Karim, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Denmark, in the chair.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
today said her government is building the armed forces in such a way as it can
defend the country's independence and sovereignty if Bangladesh is attacked.
"We don't want war with anyone. But, we have to attain
enough efficiency to protect our independence and sovereignty if Bangladesh
falls into such situation and we're preparing our forces keeping that in
mind," she said.
The premier said this while commissioning the newly
constructed naval submarine base "BNS Sheikh Hasina" by unveiling its
nameplate, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here.
The inaugural function was held at Pekua in Cox's Bazar.
The prime minister said her government is maintaining the
foreign policy adopted by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, "Friendship to all, malice to none."
She asked the armed forces personnel to continue efforts to
materialise Father of the Nation's dream of building developed, prosperous and
Smart Bangladesh by 2041 free from hunger and poverty alongside discharging
professional duties.
"We have established the Bangladesh Navy as a smart
force. We will build every organisation as modern with up-to-date and
technological knowledge," she said.
The premier said they have adopted a "Blue
Economy" policy and are working to use the vast marine resources in
flourishing country's national economy and thus to contribute to ensuring
overall development of Bangladesh.
She said the newly commissioned submarine base would help
navy increase its operational capacity to secure the vast marine resources
while the ships passing through the Bay of Bengal also can take help from the
base.
"A proud chapter is added to the history of Bangladesh
Navy with commissioning the complete and ultra-modern submarine base," she
said.
The premier also witnessed the first flag hoisting ceremony
in the submarine base of the navy.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal gave the
address of welcome at the venue in Pekua.
A brief audio-visual documentary of the submarine base was
screened at the function.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had enacted the Territorial
Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974 to establish Bangladesh’s rights on its
maritime boundaries.
But, the United Nations adopted the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 as an international maritime
law, she said.
After 21 years , when AL government assumed power in 1996, Sheikh Hasina said her government had taken some measures
and signed the UN unclose to this end, adding that the Zia, Ershad and
Khaleda’s governments did not take any measures.
After coming to power for the second time in 2009, the prime
minister said they have been able to establish Bangladesh’s rights on the vast
marine areas and its resources from neighbouring India and Myanmar with
maintaining the friendly relations.
Sheikh Hasina said her government formulated "Forces
Goal 2030" in line with Bangabandhu’s Defence Policy-1974 after assuming
power in 2009 and is now implementing the goal aimed at transforming all the
military forces as modern and time-worthy organizations.
In last 14 years, a
total of 31 warships, including four
frigates, six corvettes, four
large patrol crafts, five patrol crafts
and two training ships were added to the
fleet of Bangladesh Navy, she said.
"We added two submarines on March 12 in 2017. As a
result, today our Navy was established as a three-dimensional naval
force," she added.
The premier said Bangladesh is currently building ships in
local shipyards for its own uses and for others.
Bangladesh Navy has completed the construction of five patrol craft including large ones in Khulna shipyard, she said.
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