Chinese Premier Li Qiang congratulated Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday and expressed his readiness to work with him to advance the long-standing friendship between the two countries and enhance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

In a message, Li emphasized the importance of continued exchanges across all sectors and called for elevating the Bangladesh-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a higher level, aiming to deliver greater benefits to both peoples.

“China and Bangladesh are neighbors with a long-standing friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partners,” Li wrote. “The friendly ties between the two countries have a long history. Over the past 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Bangladesh and China have consistently respected each other, pursued mutually beneficial cooperation and achieved win-win results, setting a fine example of international exchanges.”

Li also expressed China’s support for the smooth governance of the newly formed Bangladeshi government.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn in on Tuesday afternoon by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban around 4:15 PM.

Earlier in the day, BNP Parliamentary Party elected him as the leader of the party’s parliamentary group at a meeting held at the Parliament building.