Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun has re-emphasised the need for talks between the major parties to overcome the current political impasse surrounding the upcoming general elections, saying that dialogue is much better than confrontation. He also said that people and political leaders know very well what the country needs under the current situation and that he could not say what should be done.
“I believe political leaders and Bangladeshi people know the best now what this country needs under such a situation,” the Chinese Ambassador said while addressing as chief guest at a seminar on ‘China’s Look South and Bangladesh’s Look East Policy: Convergences and Constraints’ organised by the Institute of Governance Studies of the BRAC University on Wednesday. “I cannot tell what should or should not be done. I am not in that position. But as a friend I only know dialogue is much much better than confrontation,” he said, adding that any move towards dialogue for finding a solution must be encouraged.
This was the third time the Chinese Ambassador publicly spoke about the country’s political situation since August 21.
Stressing the need for a face-to-face dialogue between the senior leaders of Awami League and BNP, he told a press conference on August 21 that he had already made efforts to organise such a dialogue and is continuing his efforts to push for a negotiation between the two parties.
On Monday, Jun had a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her office where he hoped that both parties would continue to show goodwill, build trust and enlarge consensus to create a sound environment for the next election. In reply, Khaleda Zia expressed BNP’s readiness to hold talks with government on the election through a non-party neutral government. She also proposed that BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam could represent the respective parties.
Mentioning Khaleda’s readiness for talks a reporter asked the Chinese Ambassador at the day’s (Wednesday) seminar if he had received any response from the government side in this regard.
“Not yet,” he replied, adding, “The government has no obligation to give me the answer.”
“I just hope there will be a peaceful dialogue between the major political parties,” Jun said.
Regarding Chinese investment in Bangladesh, he said that it would integrate the economies of the two countries and help address the trade imbalance.
-With The Independent input
