China will always be a trustworthy neighbour, close friend and cooperative partner of Bangladesh on the country's journey towards modernisation, Chinese Embassy Charge' D'affaires Yan Hualong said today.

"China will continue to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Bangladesh economic and trade relations," he said.

Hualong was addressing the opening of "The Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023" at the Bangabandhu-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal today.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that Bangladesh was the first among South Asian countries to join.

The Chinese embassy in collaboration with the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh organised the event.

Yan Hualong said the exhibition was hosted by the Chinese embassy to vividly demonstrate the achievements of the BRI in Bangladesh and to build a platform for cooperation between Chinese and Bangladeshi companies.

The exhibitors include 15 Chinese companies whose South Asian regional headquarters are in Bangladesh, nearly 20 other large Chinese companies that are deeply operating in the Bangladesh market, and several large Bangladeshi companies and banks.

Several seminars and workshop with government departments, forum between China and Bangladesh enterprises, job fairs, and business meetings were held at the event.

The Chinese embassy official said economic and trade cooperation has always been an important pillar of the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership. Since Bangladesh joined the BRI, more and more Chinese companies have invested in Bangladesh.

Currently, there are more than 670 Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh. These companies, especially the exhibitors, are important driving force for China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation, Hualong said.

They promote more Chinese capital, Chinese technology, and Chinese standards to Bangladesh, providing impetus for the upgrading of Bangladesh's industrial structure and long-term economic development, he added.

"I believe that, under the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Bangladesh relations will surely reach a new height and open a new era of friendly cooperation," he also said.