Chinese Military Attache Zhang Wei (L) speaks during a reception celebrating the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), at the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Shariful Islam)
DHAKA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has hosted a reception to mark the 89th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army of China which falls on Aug. 1.
About 300 guests including high-ranking officers and officials, politicians, diplomats and scholars, attended the reception held on Wednesday night.
In his welcome speech, Senior Colonel Zhang Wei, defence attache of the People's Republic of China in Bangladesh, said China and Bangladesh have witnessed healthy and stable development in exchanges and cooperation in various fields in the last few years, "with frequent high-level visits, continuously deepening pragmatic cooperation and fruitful cooperation in personnel training."
Notably, He said General Chang Wanquan, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, and General Li Zuocheng, the present inaugural commander of PLA Army, among others, visited Bangladesh with great success and fruitful results.
The top most Chinese delegations met Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and chiefs of three services of Bangladeshi armed forces, he added.
"Both sides have agreed to maintain the current positive momentum of cooperation between the two armed forces, and to enhance cooperation and exchanges in all areas and levels to promote greater development of bilateral relations," Wei mentioned.
He said the PLA Navy fleet visited Chittagong, some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka, for the first time in the past three decades, and held a joint maritime drill with Bangladesh Navy, which played a positive role in promoting mutual trust and understanding between the two navies, and improving the ability of both sides to jointly respond to maritime threats and safeguard regional peace.
In the meanwhile, Wei said a number of high-level officials from both Bangladeshi government and armed forces visited China with great successes.
"Increasing number of Bangladesh officers went to China for training and exchange, which plays an important role in promoting our mutual understanding and cooperative relations."
Wei also appreciated and praised Bangladesh's position on the South China Sea issue, which believes that "the disputes should be resolved through negotiation and consultation by parties directly concerned, and not to be interfered by any third party."
Over the past four decades, he said Bangladesh and China have maintained close defense ties.
"China not only is a reliable and affordable source of weapons and equipment for Bangladeshi armed forces, but also provides military technology and training."
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have reached a series of consensus on bilateral relations, which charted the course for development of bilateral ties, Wei said.
With common efforts, he said the two sides will forge closer defence relations in the future, which includes a growing number of high-level exchange visits, training programs, joint exercises, defence procurement, security cooperation such as counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, peacekeeping cooperation and disaster management.
