Speakers from China and Bangladesh discussed the relations between the two countries at the seminar on 'South Asian Security and Sino-Bangladesh Relations', organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).

The Sino-Bangladesh relations established in 1976 have contributed to fruitful cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, defence, science and technology and culture, said the Bangladeshi speakers.

The Chinese speakers said the relationship with Bangladesh has improved in various areas such as politics, economy, trade, science and technology and military affairs.

Ziaur Rahman Khan, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs, attended the first session as chief guest while Mahbubur Rahman, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on defence, was present as chief guest in the second session.

Mahbubur Rahman urged China, as a good friend of Bangladesh, to persuade India not to implement the proposed river inter-linking project as withdrawal of water from the Brahmaputra will have an adverse effect on Bangladesh.

On Taiwan, he said Bangladesh firmly believe that Taiwan is an integral part of China.

Ambassador Mufleh R Osmany, chairman of BIISS, and Enayetullah Khan, editor of The New Age, chaired the two sessions.

Chinese delegates from Asia Africa Development Research Institute (AADRI) and Yunnan Institute of International Studies (YNIIS) of China presented two papers.

In the paper, they said China is playing a constructive role in South Asian countries.

Former foreign secretaries Mohammad Mohsin and Abul Ahsan, former defence secretary Salauddin Ahmed, Prof Syed Anwar Hussain, journalist Zaglul A Chowdhury and Group Captain (Retd.) Abu Syed Golam Dastgir were also present.