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At the invitation of the CPAFFC, the Bangladesh-China Peoples Friendship Association (BCPFA) delegation led by Murshed Chowdhury Manzur, patron of the BCPFA and former Bengali ambassador to China, visited Beijing, Shanghai and Yunnan from May 19 to 28. The delegation called on China Radio International (CRI) and the Administrative Committee of the Shanghai Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, and visited Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre, and the Exhibition Centre of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Solicitude for the Earthquake-Hit Areas

During their stay, the delegation got to know the earthquake and the latest development of disaster relief and showed great concern with the progress of the fight against the disaster and the rescue of lives. Head of the delegation Murshed expressed, the Bengali people and the Chinese people are like brothers. The Bengali people feel the same as those in the disaster areas and have been in deep grief. After the earthquake, the Chinese leaders went to the front line themselves to command the relief efforts, while all departments and all social circles of the country were mobilized to actively support the earthquake-hit areas, fully demonstrating the Chinese peoples unity and determination and the great spirit of helping each other in times of difficulty. He believed under the firm leadership of the Chinese government, the Chinese people would surely win their fight against the natural disaster and rebuild the ruined areas. The Bengali people will always support the Chinese people in their disaster relief and reconstruction and provide help as much as they can.

The delegation members wrote on the Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Book of the CPAFFC their condolences on those who died in the earthquake. The BCPFA sent messages of condolence on the earthquake victims to the CPAFFC, CRI, the China Association for International Friendly Contact and the Chinese Peoples Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Reminiscing China-Bangladesh Friendship

Murshed was the fourth Bengali ambassador to China in the 1980s. He became patron of the BCPFA after he completed his tenure of office and returned to his country, working for the cause of friendship between the two countries. This time, at the age of 80, he visited China again and said he would spend the rest of his life to promote the development of people-to-people friendship between the two countries.

Murshed said that the friendship between Bangladesh and China has lasted for over two thousand years and stood the test of time. China has given Bangladesh enormous help for its development which the Bengali people remember in their hearts. With its limited resources, Bangladesh can not give China much support, but the Bengali people will unswervingly stand with Chinese brothers in upholding the stance of “one China”, and opposing “Taiwan independence” and “Tibet independence”. The Bengali people support and look forward to the success of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China.

Understanding Chinas Development

All the members of the delegation visited China in 1980. 20 years later, immense changes have taken place in the Chinese social life. During this visit, they got the chance to fully know the present situation of Chinas social and economic development. At the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre they listened to vivid and systematic narrations of the development plan and achievements of the two metropolises, which deeply impressed the delegates. They said they would hold an exhibition of Chinas development achievements in Bangladesh to let more people see the development of China which would help them understand China better and encourage them to devote themselves with greater enthusiasm to their own countrys construction.