Describing China as a big development partner, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s forthcoming visit to China is very important to expedite Bangladesh’s development.

While responding to a question on PM Hasina’s July 8-11 visit, the foreign minister said Bangladesh maintains its foreign policy - friendship to all, malice towards none.

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He also said Prime Minister Hasina’s state visit to India was also very fruitful where the Rohingya repatriation issue was also discussed apart from important bilateral issues of cooperation.

Responding to a separate question, foreign minister and joint general secretary of Awami League said both BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman have been convicted for corruption.

And during BNP's rule, he said, the country became a champion of corruption five times. “So talking about corruption by them or talking about Awami League's stand against corruption is the biggest joke.”

After attending Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia 'Political Consultations' in Riyadh, he returned home on Wednesday.

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Hasan faced the journalists after the publication ceremony of the Foreign Service Academy Journal and the inauguration of the Digital Library at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

The foreign minister spoke as the chief guest at the event and inaugurated the Digital Library of the academy.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Rector of the Academy Mashfee Binte Shams and senior officials of the Ministry were present.