Marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), an exclusive trade exhibition was inaugurated on Friday at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center at Purbachal.

With the mission to foster China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation, the exhibition is being organised by the Embassy of China in Bangladesh, in association with Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCCI), and China Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB).

The three-day premium exhibition is being participated by 15 Chinese companies whose South Asian regional headquarters are in Bangladesh, nearly 20 other large Chinese companies that are deeply operating in the Bangladesh market, and several large Bangladeshi companies and banks.

On Friday, Lokman Hossain Miah, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Prime Minister's Office, joined the inauguration ceremony as the chief guest while Ke Changliang, President of CEAB, joined as the special guest.

AHM Ahsan, Vice Chairman & CEO of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB); Md Anwar Hossain, Additional Secretary and Wing Chief of Economic Relations Divsion (ERD), Minisry of Finance; Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Chairman of Association of Bangladesh-China Alumni (ABCA) and Gazi Golam Murtoza, President of BCCCI, joined the inaugural event as the guests of honor.

The keynote speaker of the event was Yan Hualong, Counsellor, Chargé d'affaires of Embassy of China in Bangladesh.

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"As we all know, Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to join the Belt and Road Initiative. The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh hold this exhibition to vividly demonstrate the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh, build a platform for cooperation between Chinese and Bangladeshi companies, and to present a gift to the upcoming 74th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China," the envoy said at the event.

He further said, "Economic and trade cooperation has always been an important pillar of the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership. Since Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more Chinese companies have invested in Bangladesh. Currently, there are more than 670 Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh. These companies, especially the exhibitors here today, are important driving force for China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation."

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Hualong mentioned that these companies promote more Chinese capital, Chinese technology and Chinese standards to Bangladesh, providing impetus for the upgrading of Bangladesh's industrial structure and long-term economic development. They build infrastructures such as roads and bridges, laying a solid foundation for Bangladesh's economic development; participate in municipal water affairs, dealing with garbage and sewage, and improving the living standards of the Bangladeshi people.

“They invested in various power plants to ensure power supply in Bangladesh and helped it become the first country in South Asia with nationwide access to electricity. They participated in the construction of the Bangladesh network and contributed to the construction of Smart Bangladesh. They are committed to promoting bilateral trade and make positive contributions to Bangladesh's import of raw materials sectors and export of finished products sector,” he said.

During the three-day several seminars such as workshops with government departments, forum between China and Bangladesh enterprises, job fairs, and business meetings will also be held to ensure the positive outcome of the exhibition.

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On the journey of Bangladesh's modernization, China will always be a trustworthy neighbor, close friend and cooperative partner of Bangladesh, Hualong said at the event, mentioning that China will continue to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Bangladesh economic and trade relations.

"I believe that, under the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Bangladesh relations will surely reach a new height and open a new era of friendly cooperation," the envoy concluded.

The exhibition will continue till Sunday, September 10, from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm.