A strong and prosperous China helps promote the regional peace, stability and development, and will inject dynamics to the friendly cooperation between Bangladesh and China, according to Bangladesh President Iazuddin Ahmed.

Ahmed made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday.

Wen said his on-going visit to Bangladesh is fruitful, indicating the two countries have established long-term and friendly partnership of equality and mutual benefit, and signed nine cooperative documents.

Both China and Bangladesh are developing nations, and face the common tasks of developing economy, thus the two countries should support each other, Wen said, voicing his belief that Sino-Bangladesh relations will make new progress.

Ahmed said Bangladesh hopes to send more students to China, and Wen agreed with his proposal, saying that education is a key area for the bilateral cooperation and the Chinese government willset up a Confucius college in Dhaka to teach Chinese language and culture.

Ahmed also mentioned agricultural cooperation. He said 80 percent of its population in Bangladesh have been engaged in agricultural activities, and Bangladesh hopes to learn from China in this regard. Wen responded that China would like to strengthen agricultural cooperation with Bangladesh as it requests.

On the same day, Wen also met with Sheikh Hasina, president ofthe Bangladesh Awami League (AL). Wen said China would like to promote exchanges with all parties of Bangladesh to further the relations between the two countries.

He said the Awami League has maintained sound relations with China, hoping that Awami League would continue its constructive role in promoting the friendly cooperation between China and Bangladesh.

Wen said Bangladesh is an important country in South Asia, and he hoped the country would maintain stability and achieve economic development. This is in the fundamental interest of the people, and helps regional peace and prosperity, he added.

Hasina said the Awami League adheres to one-China policy, and would like to enhance exchanges with the Communist Party of China to further the cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

Wen is paying an official visit to South Asia covering Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Bangladesh is the second leg of his tour.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2005)