If you could produce dynamic and efficient leadership you will produce stability and peace. The change that it will bring would be miraculous. China's, and its people's, performance has been determined by the two decades of reforms, development, and stability ensured by the government.

The current caretaker government's strong-handed drive to clean up crime and corruption is laudable, and is encouraging for the future stability of Bangladesh. Development is the fundamental principle. It is a multi-faceted force and the only way to achieve modernisation.

Stability assists the process for development and reform, while development and reform will bring about consistent stability. This was brought about by China's collective government to teach the people to open up their minds to be more innovative. However, it would be quite difficult to implement these reforms in Bangladesh. Although there is great potential dense population is a problem, but is also a driving force.

The government must look to implement the right policy. They may try to accelerate economic development through improving infrastructure, improving governance, and maybe by giving more incentive to foreign companies for more foreign investment.

Basically, I think they have to improve the investment climate. They also have to improve infrastructure. The total trade volume between China and Bangladesh almost doubled, up to $3 billion, making it Bangladesh's second biggest trade partner after India.

The people of Bangladesh and China are intelligent and diligent. We have had to experience difficulties in the past that you are going through now. We did something because we had stability and peace.

Bangladesh and China both have dense populations and, therefore, share a number of similar challenges. Bangladesh could learn from China's innovations and speed of economic development to push up living standards.

I see similarities between China's Cultural Revolution and Bangladesh's current state, when people are suffering as a result of regressive policies and in-fighting among the leaders. However, China has made great strides since launching wide-ranging reforms and opening up its economy to the world.

The Chinese Communist Party could make such massive strides because of their decision to put people first, especially the rural poor. If you want to create a harmonious society, you have to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, the urban and the rural. That is why our government put great importance on rural development.

You need to raise the income of the rural peasants through state inducements. From last year, the peasants had to stop paying all agricultural taxes, something they have had to pay for 2,600 years. Infrastructure development has been shifted from the urban to the rural.

It is important to reduce their burden, and to raise their income by investing in rural infrastructure, education, and health. Farmers are more eager to produce, and their grain production is booming. China needs to be self-sufficient and this is what sustains us.

In Bangladesh, there is not a single expressway. A new Dhaka to Chittagong expressway is essential to create a new lifeline for the country. China's driving force is its private companies and the government's open door policies.

Bangladesh should try to develop its tourism sector by creating special zones in places like the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and improving tourist facilities. Improving the ethnic tribes' living standards would certainly reduce their political tensions.

Strategically, I believe, a deep sea port is necessary for the Bangladeshi economy. The existing Chittagong port is not satisfactory and needs to be modified. A Chinese company is already working there to develop the port.

It was a breakthrough for China to get observer status for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. That would help in developing more a concrete relationship between China and the region.

China is eager to help, cooperate in, and speed up the economic development of the smaller countries in the region to foster peace and maintain an amicable relationship with its bordering countries.

China has assisted Bangladesh both militarily and economically for many years. We have built six bridges for Bangladesh, one of which is currently being completed in Munshiganj. China's friendship with Bangladesh is also embodied by the China-Bangladesh Friendship Centre in Dhaka.

Geo-strategically, Bangladesh is very important as the link between South-East Asia and South Asia and, as such, Bangladesh should substantiate its "Look East" policy and not be stuck on rhetoric.

For instance, road links and air links with East Asian countries must develop further. I personally followed up with establishing air links between China and Bangladesh, now the government must follow up its words with actions.

Bangladesh and China have a tradition in defence cooperation, as China has provided and sold necessary equipment to the Bangladesh armed forces. Recently, officers have also been going to China for training.

Many Chinese companies, ranging from textiles to cement, are interested in investing in Bangladesh, but the country must improve its political stability. He said that Bangladesh could learn two very important lessons from China's investment policies.

Firstly, China realised that foreign companies must be allowed to make a profit out of their operations through several incentive policies. Secondly, the government must invest in infrastructure to facilitate trade.

But it is imperative to improve governance and raise the bureaucracy's efficiency. In China we have one-stop service for foreign investors, in Bangladesh you have to wait for months to get a visa, not to mention a working permit.

Bangladesh has some strong points to attract investment, such as a cheap, diligent and intelligent labour force, and also favourable access to Europe.

China-Bangladesh relations
China and Bangladesh are close neighbours, and the traditional friendship between the two countries dated back to ancient times and was deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.

Friendly relations between the two countries have been developing soundly and smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975.

On the basis of the five principles of peaceful co-existence and in accordance with mutual benefits, China and Bangladesh have forged all-round and multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture, science and technology, with outstanding achievements.

I have tried my best to further improve the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. I feel proud about putting in special efforts to facilitate the establishment of the direct air-link between Beijing and Dhaka via Kunming.

Chinese development
The Chinese experience shows that a government's performance in addressing reform, development and stability determines the performance of the country and its people.

Development is a fundamental principle. Reform is the motive force of development and is the only way to modernization. Stability serves as the precondition for development and reform, and development and reform will bring about consistent stability.

As a half-Bangladeshi, I always share the grief with you when the appalling floods and typhoons occur, and feel the common delight in witnessing the country getting out of difficulty thanks to the people's profound courage and wisdom.

I laud the fast development in the textile and garments industry, the increase of export income, and the moderate GDP growth in Bangladesh. Bangladesh successfully feeds 10 percent of the Chinese population in just 1.4 percent of Chinese territory. As Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said, this is a miracle.

Bangladesh was a land of 140 million diligent and intelligent people, and it has tremendous potential for social advancement and economic development. There is every reason to believe in the better future of Bangladesh, as long as it is piloted under honest, dynamic and efficient leadership.

Dhaka days
This is my fifth posting to Bangladesh and during my 30 year diplomatic career most of the time had been devoted to Bangladeshi affairs, no matter whether I am in Dhaka or Beijing.

In Dhaka alone, I spent 50 percent of my diplomatic life in different capacities. From a student of Dhaka University to the ambassador of China to Bangladesh, I had the opportunity to see through my eyes the amazing changes in the society, the remarkable development of the economy and the great improvement of the people's life.

I took admission at the Modern Language Institute of Dhaka University in August 1976, which was just one year after opening of the Chinese embassy in Dhaka. With the advantage of knowing the Bangla language, I tried for 30 years to study and understand Bangladesh and its people, and I think that I have come to know them.

I could deeply feel the true love and genuine friendship of the people of this country for the people of China. Therefore, I have special feelings for Bangladesh and its people, and consider Dhaka as my second home.

I have made a lot of good friends in various walks of life and had a wonderful time in this country. I like everything in Bangladesh, from food to dress. I like to wear panjabi, and my wife saree. I have only one daughter and she can speak Bangla too, and she knows Bangladeshi dance.

My daughter received dance training from Nipa at China-Bangladesh Friendship School in Beijing, which was set up during Ershad regime. Ershad sent the then minister Anwar Zahid with a cheque of one million dollars for the school, as a thank you gesture for constructing the Buriganga Bridge in Dhaka.

I have to admit the complex emotions in my heart. For diplomats, we always move on in our jobs during service life, but that does not mean we move on in our friendship. To quote a famous ancient Chinese poem: "As long as you have a friend who knows your heart, distance can't keep you two apart."

Wherever I may be, I will always recall with pride and honour my good friends in Bangladesh. Wherever I may be, I will always cherish the good memory of my life in Bangladesh and the friendship with all.