Xi offers to send experts team to Bangladesh to fight Covid-19

Beijing offered Bangladesh to send a team of experts to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus when Chinese President Xi Jinping called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.

"The Chinese president phoned the prime minister around 5pm today and wanted to know the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told media.

"We're ready to send an expert team to Bangladesh to help prevent coronavirus if you want," Xi told Sheikh Hasina.

During the 25-minute conversation, the Chinese president assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that his country will continue support for Bangladesh's economic development.

"We'll always stay beside Bangladesh for its economic uplift and also extend support to the country in the international forum," he said.

Xi said China will continue to work for further strengthening "strategic partnership" with Bangladesh.

The press secretary said the prime minister thanked the Chinese president for expressing sympathy to Bangladesh for the coronavirus situation.

Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to the international community to work together to combat Covid-19 pandemic, Karim said.

The two leaders also expressed gratitude to each other for sending medical equipment and other goods to their respective countries during the pandemic.

The press secretary said the Chinese president recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China.

"His (Bangabandhu) visit laid the foundation of bilateral relations between the two countries," Xi Jinping said and hoped that the ties will be strengthened further in the days to come.