Bangladesh, China and Pakistan have held extensive discussions on trilateral cooperation and agreed to move forward based on the principles of good-neighborliness, mutual trust, equality, openness, inclusiveness and shared development.

In a meeting held in Kunming, Yunnan province of China on June 19, three sides emphasised that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation adheres to true multilateralism and open regionalism, not directed at any third party, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bangladesh's former acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Pakistani Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting.

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link.

The Bangladesh side is yet to make any comments on the outcome of the meeting.

Sun Weidong said the Chinese government is committed to building a community with a shared future with neighbouring countries.

"Bangladesh and Pakistan are both good neighbours, good friends, and good partners of China, and important partners in high quality Belt and Road cooperation," Weidong said.

As significant members of the Global South and key countries in the region, all three countries face the mission of national revitalisation and modernisation, and all require a peaceful and stable environment, said the Chinese side.

"Cooperation among China, Pakistan and Bangladesh aligns with the common interests of the three peoples, and can contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity," said Weidong.

China-Bangladesh-Pakistan trilateral cooperation focuses on promoting economic development and improving people’s livelihoods.

The three sides agreed to explore and implement cooperation projects in such areas as industry, trade, maritime affairs, water resources, climate change, agriculture, human resources, think tanks, health, education, culture and the youth.

The three sides will establish a working group to follow up and implement the understandings reached during the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, described the meeting as the "inaugural meeting of Bangladesh-China-Pakistan trilateral mechanism."

During the meeting, the three sides agreed to enhance their cooperation for enhancing regional connectivity and deepening cooperation in the diverse fields of bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environmental protection and marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges, according to the Pakistan side.

In Kunming, Sun Weidong also called on Haji Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the interim government of Afghan, and held bilateral meetings with Ruhul Alam Siddique and Imran Ahmed Siddiqui.

Source: UNB