Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said insurance will play an increasingly important role in Bangladesh’s social-economic development. Ambassador Li witnessed the contract signing between Sinosoft Co. Ltd and Bangladesh Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority on Thursday (September 15, 2022). Read:"Bangladesh-India are connected through the heart" Dr Mohammad Jainul Bari, Chairman of Bangladesh Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority; Dr Md. Kamruzzaman, Project Director; and Sun Xijie, Executive Senior Vice-President of Sinosoft Co. Ltd., attended the ceremony. “This project will help accelerate the process of informatization and digitization of Bangladesh’s insurance industry,” said Ambassador Li. He said that Bangladesh Insurance Sector Development Project, contract of which was signed, marks another major step forward in technology cooperation between Bangladesh and China.  The envoy also pointed out that the "Chinese Dream" of national rejuvenation and “Sonar Bangla” goals are interconnected.  The Belt and Road Initiative and the Vision 2041 perspective plan will integrate further, said the Chinese envoy.  Read:US exploring ways to expand security cooperation with Bangladesh He wished the project great success and hoped the two countries would work together to enhance technology cooperation and provide better services to the people. Jainul Bari spoke highly of China’s cooperation in various fields of Bangladesh, such as trade, investment, mega projects and technology.  China has played an “overwhelmingly positive” role in the development of Bangladesh, the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka quoted him as saying. 

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral issues of mutual interests as well as the issue of repatriation of Rohingyas, said the MoFA.

Bangladeshi students who study in China can be allowed to return to China following the improving Covid situation there, said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said on Monday. “China has started allowing foreign students to return to the country and Bangladesh is in the first lot,” said the ambassador in a video note posted on Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Bangladesh’s Facebook page. Read: Padma Bridge: China lauds PM Hasina’s leadership amid enormous difficulties “The pandemic both in China and Bangladesh seems under control, which is good news to our two countries,” he said. Shanghai, the worst-hit state of China in the latest wave of Covid-19, is gradually returning to normal with only two or three dozens of daily Covid cases, said Li Jiming.

Terming the Padma Multipurpose Bridge a symbol of courage, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has credited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s wise leadership and determination in building the “dream bridge” despite enormous difficulties. “It’s an outstanding achievement. This is going to be a big day (June 25) for Bangladesh, Today, nobody will ever doubt that Bangladesh can do it,” he said, adding that PM  Hasina is a “true representative” of the people who share the glory of building the bridge. Ambassador Li said the prime minister made a particular contribution to make that decision because it requires “extreme political courage and political responsibility” to take such a tough decision (to build the bridge with its own resources). “I doubt any average leader of any country can make such a tough decision as she did, I doubt. I really doubt,” he said while sharing his thoughts with the media on the mega project on Sunday. Also read: Padma Bridge is a history-making project: S Korean envoy As the formal inauguration of the bridge by the premier draws closer, ambassador Li extended his and his country’s warmest congratulations to the people and government of Bangladesh for this achievement. Highlighting the vision of PM Hasina and a solid reality with the physical existence of the bridge, the Chinese envoy said he feels particularly proud of and connected to the bridge, not only because it is built by a Chinese company but also because they see it is a “milestone” of Bangladesh-China cooperation. He believes that after the bridge is open to traffic, it will benefit the people of Bangladesh, contribute to the connectivity of South Asia and it will serve as an everlasting bond of brotherhood between China and Bangladesh. “Whenever I think of the bridge, three words come to my mind: courage, determination and prosperity,” he added. The Padma Bridge is so far the longest bridge Chinese companies have ever built outside China. “So I think accepting the challenge was also a courageous step taken by the Chinese side,” said the envoy.    The ambassador recalled the days when the government of Bangladesh was conceiving the idea of the bridge and there were some complications regarding finance, technical viability and legitimacy of the plan. “Some partners from abroad didn’t believe such a plan could ever materialize. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Sheikh steeled herself for all the doubts, pressures and allegations, and decided to build the bridge with Bangladesh’s own finances, which required tremendous courage and a strong sense of political responsibility,” he said, mentioning that China had full confidence in the people and the government of Bangladesh. “And we are correct.”

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has recently visited Bhasan Char to meet the Rohingyas staying there temporarily and see the facilities there for them. Ambassador Li also inspected two projects on the island undertaken by Chinese companies, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Monday. Also read:Chinese ambassador greets Bangladeshis, wishes for global peace

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Sunday said China will continue supporting Bangladesh's infrastructure development, promoting cooperation to a higher level, and helping Bangladesh materialize its development dream. China has the rich experience in infrastructure development and its construction efficiency and quality are among the best in the world, he said.  "I believe that under BRI, the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the field of transportation infrastructure are very promising," said the Ambassador while delivering a pre-recorded speech at the second part of a function marking the formal inauguration of construction work of Cox's Bazar Airport's runway extension into Sea. Read:PM inaugurates work on Cox's Bazar Airport’s runway upgradation Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated it. The Chinese Ambassador said the project is the key step that will promote Cox’s Bazar to become an international metropolis. 

Bangladesh, China and Incepta Pharmaceutical Ltd on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on coproduction of Sinopharm vaccine in Bangladesh. Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Abdul Muktadir, Chairman, Incepta Vaccine Limited signed the MoU from Dhaka while Li Can, President, China Sinopharm International Corporation and Zhu Jingjin, Vice President, China National Biotec Group Company Limited signed it from Beijing. Incepta, a leading pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh, will bring in bulk and bottling, labeling and finishing of the vaccine will be done locally making the price relatively very cheap. Read: Dhaka to receive 10 lakh Sinopharm vaccine doses shortly Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming witnessed the signing of the MoU among relevant parties. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Health Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah, among others, spoke.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said China will continue to serve as a “bridge of communication and try its best to facilitate early results” as Bangladesh seeks early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. “We fully understand the keenness of Bangladesh to start repatriation, and our determination to help the two friendly neighbours resolve this long-standing issue will never change,” he said while speaking at an online symposium hosted by the Cosmos Foundation. While delivering the keynote speech, Ambassador Li said the sudden change in Myanmar earlier this year - the coup in February - caught them all by surprise, and created some uncertainties over the repatriation process. Read:Never worry about any 'debt trap': Beijing to Dhaka Right now, he said, China is closely observing the situation in Myanmar, hoping the country could return to normal soon. Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan delivered the opening remarks at the symposium titled “Bangladesh-China Relations: Prognosis for the Future” which premiered on its Facebook page on Thursday evening. Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, renowned scholar-diplomat and adviser on foreign affairs to the last caretaker government, chaired the session. Ambassador (retd) Tariq A. Karim, CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, former Foreign Secretary Shamsher M. Chowdhury, Assistant Researcher of the Institute for International Studies at Yunnan University Dr Zou Yingmeng, Assistant Research Fellow at China Institute of International Studies Dr Ning Shengnan, former Ambassador Serajul Islam and Dhaka University Professor Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir comprised the panel of discussants. Read:Get ready as major shift taking place in global economy: FM Former Ambassador Tariq Karim said, “I would request China to support us in our efforts to augment regional and sub-regional cooperation on a number of issues which will have consequences with China, particularly in resolving the Rohingya issue, not just in Bangladesh, but particularly in its point of origin where China has the capacity to help us resolve it.” Metaphorically speaking about the current volatile situation in Myanmar, he said he sees the flame in the centre and it is at the point of imploding, and imploding Myanmar will lead to an explosion that will not leave any country, including China, Bangladesh, India and any of the Asean countries, untouched.  

An online symposium on Bangladesh-China Relations: Prognosis for the Future, hosted by Cosmos Foundation, will be premiered on its Facebook page at 7pm on June 24. The keynote address at the symposium was delivered by Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming which was recorded on Saturday. Read:Cosmos Dialogue on Dhaka-Washington ties premieres Saturday on Facebook Experts both from Bangladesh and China were brought together to assess the state of relations between Bangladesh and China and identify the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the efforts to take it forward. Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan delivered the opening and closing remarks at the event. Renowned scholar-diplomat and adviser on foreign affairs to the last caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury chaired the session. Read:‘The Black Story’ exhibition by Gallery Cosmos launched virtually Ambassador (retd) Tariq A. Karim, CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, former Foreign Secretary Shamsher M Chowdhury, Assistant Researcher of the Institute for International Studies at Yunnan University Dr Zou Yingmeng, Assistant Research Fellow at China Institute of International Studies Dr Ning Shengnan, former Ambassador Serajul Islam and Dhaka University Professor Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir joined it as the panel of discussants drawn from both sides. The full video of the event will be available for viewing on the Facebook page of the Cosmos Foundation, and (elsewhere) from Thursday at any time, following the premiere. In Cosmos Foundation’s Ambassador Lecture Series, the envoys of various countries stationed in Dhaka are invited to deliver a keynote, before engaging with a high-level expert panel on bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the country they represent. Read:US Ambassador Miller visits art exhibition on PM at Cosmos Centre Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of conglomerate the Cosmos Group, brings together the finest minds to arrive at a prognosis for the future of the relationship, in line with its commitment to eliciting strategic insights and policy solutions for Bangladesh as it charts its course toward a future that is ever brighter.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said they will hopefully be able to make a formal announcement soon on vaccine coproduction in Bangladesh as there has been a progress in the ongoing negotiation. He, however, said it is up to them (vaccine-manufacturing countries) to choose local pharmaceutical companies for the vaccine coproduction in Bangladesh. Read:G7 must ensure vaccine access in developing countries: UN experts "They’ll come and see the capacity after necessary inspection and will provide coproduction facilities," Dr Momen told reporters at State guesthouse Padma. He said there will be no vaccine crisis in the country once coproduction begins. "Hopefully, we’ll become the exporter of vaccines after meeting domestic demand." Earlier, he attended a programme where Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) leaders donated medicines to Palestine Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan.