Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday said China is ready to cooperate with Bangladesh in renewable energy, particularly solar power.
“I believe it’s high time for Bangladesh to develop renewable energy, solar energy, so as to get rid of reliance on fossil energy,” he told reporters at Secretariat while responding to a question on how China can help Bangladesh in addressing its energy crisis.
“That is a strength of China. I see a lot of opportunities in terms of our cooperation to help Bangladesh overcome this challenge,” Yao added.
He was talking to reporters after his meeting with newly appointed LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan at the latter's office. State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam was also present at the meeting.
Ambassador Yao said China would give priority to development projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of underprivileged people, while expressing optimism about tangible progress in several major projects in Bangladesh.
At the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation, particularly projects under the ministry’s jurisdiction.
Describing the meeting as “very, very good, constructive and substantial,” Ambassador Yao said the discussions focused on the future of Bangladesh-China cooperation.
“Dr Moyeen Khan is a good friend of China. He visited China many times and supported a lot in terms of party-to-party cooperation,” he said, referring to the LGRD Minister.
The Ambassador said China was pleased that its “good old friend” had assumed an important assignment and that the two sides discussed ways to advance cooperation.
He highlighted the waste management project, describing it as the first of its kind in Bangladesh and saying it would soon be inaugurated.
“We are happy with the guidance of the Prime Minister. It will be inaugurated very soon,” Yao said.
He expressed hope that the project would become a model for supporting the development of Dhaka city.
The Ambassador also placed special emphasis on the Dhaka slum modernisation project, saying it was among the ministry’s top priorities because of its direct connection with the livelihoods of poor and underprivileged people.
Yao said China would attach priority to projects that improve the lives of poor people.
“Definitely, as long as it is a livelihood project and can elevate the livelihood of poor people, it will be a priority in terms of China’s cooperation with Bangladesh,” he said.
He also pledged his full support for cooperation in water management, green development and other development projects.
Asked about the latest status of fighter aircraft Bangladesh might procure from China, the Ambassador declined to comment.
“I suggest focusing on the meeting with the Minister. I’m not in a position to comment on this matter,” he said.
Yao said Bangladesh-China relations are currently enjoying a “historical opportunity” for deeper cooperation following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s landmark visit to China.
He said the two countries had agreed to build a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future, calling it a “new definition” of bilateral cooperation.
He mentioned progress in several projects, including the Chattogram Chinese special economic zone, the Mongla project, the Teesta River project and other initiatives.
The Ambassador also highlighted cooperation in education and skills development, saying efforts were underway to include Chinese language teaching in Bangladesh’s national education system by the end of this year.