Xi congratulates Alamgir on assuming presidency

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on Monday to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on assuming office as president of Bangladesh, calling for joint efforts to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries, strengthen strategic communication and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

In the message, Xi called China and Bangladesh traditional friendly neighbors. Over the past 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always upheld mutual respect and treated each other as equals, he said.

China and Bangladesh have supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and have moved forward hand-in-hand on their respective paths toward modernization, he said.

Bilateral relations have withstood the tests of a rapidly changing international situation, he added.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh relations.

He also expressed hope that the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation across various fields to make more solid progress in building a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era and bring greater benefits to the two peoples.

Alamgir, 78, a senior leader of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was sworn in as the country's 23rd president on Friday, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members and hundreds of distinguished guests attended the oath-taking ceremony at the presidential palace in Dhaka.