Premier Wen Jiabao starts Thursday a two-day official visit to Bangladesh with an aim to further strengthen the relations between China and the South Asian country.
The following are major events during the development of bilateral ties of China and Bangladesh.
On October 4, 1975, the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of Bangladesh officially established diplomatic relations.
In January 1977, Zia Rahman, the then chief executive of Marshal Law and then chief of the Army Staff of Bangladesh, visited China. During his talks with Chinese leadership, Zia Rahman extended his appreciation to China for supporting Bangladesh in safeguarding its national independence and in the issue of the sharing of Ganges water. The two governments signed the Agreement of Economic and Technological Cooperation and the Agreement of Trade Payment.
In March 1978, then Vice Premier Li Xiannian was invited to visit Bangladesh, the first ever by a Chinese leader to Bangladesh. During the visit, the two countries signed the Agreement of Cooperation in Economy, Science and Technology.
In August 1980, then Bangladeshi President Zia Rahman visited China. The two governments inked the Agreement of Loans and the Agreement of Aviation Transportation.
The late Bangladeshi President Hussain Mohammad Ershad, who was in power between 1983 and 1990, paid five visits to China, respectively in November 1982, July 1985, July 1987, November 1988 and June 1990. During his visits, both countries successively signed the Agreement of Cooperation in Science and Technology and the Agreement of Establishing Meeting System Between Officials of the Two Foreign Ministries.
In March 1986, then President Li Xiannian visited Bangladesh.
In November 1989, former Premier Li Peng paid an official goodwill visit to Bangladesh, during which both sides signed the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visas and the Agreement of Trade.
In June 1991, then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khalida Zia paid an official goodwill visit to China.
In September 1996, then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hashina paid an official goodwill visit to China, which was her first visit to foreign countries after assuming the prime minister's office. During the visit, the two countries signed the Agreement on Encouraging and Protecting Investment, the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on the Prevention of Tax Evasion.
In April 1999, Li Peng, former chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, took an official goodwill visit to Bangladesh.
During the Millennium Summit in September 2000, then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hashina attended the breakfast meeting held by former President Jiang Zemin.
In January 2002, former Premier Zhu Rongji visited Bangladesh and held talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khalida Zia. The two countries signed Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, Certificate of Handover of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, Executive Program of the Cultural Agreement for 2001-2003 and four other agreements.
In December 2002, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khalida Zia visited China. The two countries signed Exchange of Letters Regarding the Loan Used for the Project of Bangladesh-China Friendship International Conference Center to Be Converted to Grant, Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation and two other agreements.
(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2005)
