Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said they will work hand in hand with the government of Bangladesh and wider sectors of society to contain the pandemic and overcome the temporary difficulties.

"We will jointly write a new chapter of bilateral cooperation," the Ambassador told Dhaka Courier looking ahead for a stronger ties between the two countries.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China.

The Ambassador said a Chinese proverb goes, "Only friendships built on sincerity can last long."

Over the past 45 years, he said, the two countries have shown mutual respect, understanding, and support in their relationship.

Ambassador Jiming said pragmatic cooperation in a wide range of fields has been greatly expanded and the economies of China and Bangladesh are closely linked and highly complementary to each other.

"There are huge spaces for cooperation in public health, trade, investment, and engineering contracts between the two countries," he said.

The Ambassador thinks the cooperation between Bangladesh and China not only benefits the peoples of the two countries but also promote regional development and stability.

"China will always be the most reliable partner of Bangladesh and a firm builder and implementer of major infrastructure projects for the Belt and Road connectivity," he said.

Solidarity and Cooperation

The ambassador said the virus cannot defeat humanity and they will eventually prevail over the stealthy foe. "Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons for the mankind to defeat the virus."

He said the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis facing the mankind, and thus every country shares the same destiny.

"No country can guarantee its absolute security in public health alone until all countries are safe," he said.

The international community, therefore, needs solidarity and cooperation more than ever, said Ambassador Jiming.

He said China is ready to continue to work with the international community to support WHO's leadership in the global response, promote solidarity and cooperation among the international community, safeguard the Earth, build a global community with a shared health for all, and win the battle against the virus at an early date.

Commitments from Top

On the evening of 20th May, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke on the phone.

The Ambassador said the two leaders expressed appreciation for the mutual support between China and Bangladesh both before and during the COVID-19, reaffirmed our common commitment to a coordinated global response to the pandemic, and pledged to further our cooperation in addressing the situation and areas beyond.

He said this conversation demonstrates the firm determination of the two countries to join hands to overcome the current difficulties.

"And it is of high significance as it laid down the guidelines to advance our joint response in fighting the COVID-19 as well as strengthening our strategic partnership of cooperation in a post-COVID-19 era," said Ambassador Jiming.

During the conversation, the Ambassador said, President Xi reaffirmed China's firm support to Bangladesh in fighting COVID-19 and its readiness to help where it can in light of the actual needs of Bangladesh, including sending a medical expert team to Bangladesh.

The team arrived in Bangladesh on Monday, with hands-on experience and critical medical supplies for curbing the COVID-19 transmission and treating the patients.

President Xi also announced that China would provide US$2 billion over two years to help the COVID-19 response and economic and social development in the affected countries, especially developing countries, and would contribute to ensuring the COVID-19 vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries as a global public good when vaccine development and deployment in China would be available.

"I believe all these practical measures will benefit Bangladeshi people in the near future. As a responsible major country, China will continue to cooperate with its best ability with the international community to prevail over the global fight against the COVID-19," said the Chinese Ambassador.

Facing this unknown, unexpected, and devastating disease, the Ambassador said, China launched a resolute battle to prevent and control its spread.

He said the government of China released a White Paper titled Fighting Covid-19: China in Action that details the endeavors of the Chinese people in fighting this tough battle.

Making people's lives and health its first priority, the Chinese envoy said, China adopted extensive, stringent, and thorough containment measures, and has for now succeeded in cutting all channels for the transmission of the virus. 1.4 billion Chinese people have exhibited enormous tenacity and solidarity in erecting a defensive rampart that demonstrates their power in the face of such natural disasters.

Presence of Chinese Corona-conquerors

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the presence of a Chinese medical experts team will act to encourage both doctors and patients in Bangladesh, as the country strives to bring its local epidemic under control amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

"All countries need to work together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. It's a global issue and a country alone can't tackle it," Dr Momen said welcoming the Chinese medical experts team.

The ten-member team of Chinese medical experts, who have the firsthand experience of containing the virus and treating the patients with remarkable success, arrived here with a bunch of medical equipment.

The Foreign Minister said mutual cooperation and participation will be required in dealing with economic challenges in the post-COVID-19 period.

Noting Chinese support in dealing with coronavirus in Bangladesh, Dr Momen said China is working with much interest on Rohingya issue too.

He hoped that Bangladesh will move ahead with the support from China in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

Dr Momen said the relations between Bangladesh and Chile will be deepened in the coming days.

He said China showed success in controlling the coronavirus and other countries are following China while managing COVID-19 patients. "Even, it was China which came up first with the idea of maintaining social distancing."

First Foreign Medical Team

Chinese Ambassador Jiming said he believes it is the first medical team sent by the government of any foreign country to Bangladesh after the COVID-19 outbreak, consisting of 10 senior Chinese medical experts of various specialties relevant to treating the covid-19 patients.

In the next two weeks, he said, they will pay field visits in different hospitals and medical facilities, conduct in-depth clinical discussions with Bangladesh health officials and professionals, share experiences, and provide guiding technical advices on covid-19 treatment and control.

The Ambassador said the medical team marks another step further in China's all-out support to Bangladesh.

Starting from February, China has provided Bangladesh with over 3.4 million surgical and N-95 masks, over 110,000 sets of personal protective equipment, and a large number of test kits, thermometers, ventilators, and sanitizers, to meet the most urgent needs of Bangladesh to contain COVID-19, he said.

The Ambassador said the Chinese Embassy has been actively engaged with the government and health experts of Bangladesh in experience sharing and information exchange.

"A pandemic such as COVID-19 again shows us that in today's world no country could stand alone in a global crisis," he said.

The Ambassador said all must work together, and together we will success. "Mutual understanding and support between China and Bangladesh since the onset of the pandemic has shown the pragmatic cooperation of the two countries."