China has assured Bangladesh of its “active support” in Dhaka's bid to join the BRICS grouping, according to a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry readout after Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries in Beijing on Monday.
The talks were co-chaired by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and China’s Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
“The consultations focused on consolidating bilateral relations, enhancing economic ties, promoting trade and investment and exploring opportunities for cooperation in multilateral platform,” the Foreign Ministry statement read.
Significantly, the two sides also discussed the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China.
Momen said during his opening remarks that Bangladesh accorded "significant importance" to its relations with Beijing, which were based on "shared values, mutual respect and common aspirations".
Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary also expressed gratitude to Beijing for its support in developing infrastructure in the South Asian nation, which includes several mega projects.
The statement said that Bangladesh sought duty-free quota Free (DFQF) access to Bangladeshi products in China.
He also asked for Beijing's cooperation in the "safe and voluntary repatriation" of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh to Myanmar.
For his part, Sun said that Beijing would work together with Dhaka to import mangos and other agricultural products from Bangladesh.
The Chinese vice-foreign minister said that he would work towards the goal of "expediting" the return of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.