India and China on Sunday invited Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to pay official visits to the countries at mutually convenient times.

The envoys extended the invitations on behalf of their respective foreign ministers during separate meetings with Khalilur at the foreign ministry in Dhaka. In addition, Pakistan’s envoy also paid a call on the foreign minister.

All three envoys congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to a decisive victory in the parliamentary polls, which they described as one of the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

They also felicitated Khalilur on his assumption of office as foreign minister.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen conveyed China’s firm support for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s “Bangladesh First” policy.

He said that the Chinese premier intends to work closely with the Bangladeshi prime minister to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Foreign Minister Khalilur underscored the importance of advancing the Bangladesh–China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

He also called for enhanced Chinese engagement with all relevant stakeholders for the early repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Ambassador Wen conveyed an invitation from the Chinese foreign minister for Khalilur to undertake an official visit to China at a mutually convenient time.

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma expressed his government’s readiness to work closely with the new Government of Bangladesh to further advance bilateral cooperation.

The foreign minister indicated Bangladesh’s intent to build a forward-looking and balanced partnership based on mutual interest for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular and constructive engagement to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

High Commissioner Verma extended to the foreign minister an invitation from Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to undertake an official visit to New Delhi at an early date.

Pakistani High Commissioner Imran Haider conveyed his government’s keen interest in working closely with the new government of Bangladesh to strengthen and broaden bilateral cooperation. Khalilur expressed the intent of the government to explore new avenues of collaboration for the welfare of the people of both countries.

He also underscored Bangladesh’s priority of strengthening regional cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of all countries of the South Asian region.

The envoys also met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.