Outgoing Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Chai Xi yesterday said Bangladesh with its tremendous potentials in social and economic development would do better as long as it is piloted under an honest, dynamic and efficient leadership.

“Chinese experiences tell us that a government's performance in addressing the reform, development and stability determines the performance of the country and its people,” he said at a reception accorded to him by Jatiya Press Club in the evening.

Chai Xi, who leaves Dhaka next week after completing three and a half years as Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, said development is the fundamental principle while reform is the motive force of development and the only way to modernisation.

He said stability serves as the precondition of the development and reform, and the development and reform will lead to consistent stability.

Chai Xi, who spent 15 years of his 30-year diplomatic career in Bangladesh, said that from a student of Dhaka University to the ambassador of China to Bangladesh, he had seen the amazing changes of society, the remarkable development of the economy and the great improvement of the people's life.

He appreciated the fast development in textile and garment industry, the increase in export income and the moderate GDP growth. The country with 140 million diligent and intelligent people has tremendous potentials in social advancement and economic development, he said.

“I could deeply feel the true love and genuine friendship of the people of Bangladesh to the people of China. I have special sentiment on Bangladesh and its people, and consider Dhaka as my second home,” Xi said in an emotion-charged voice.

On bilateral trade and cooperation, the ambassador said the total trade volume almost doubled to US$ 3 billion. He also men-

tioned his special efforts to establish the air-link between Dhaka and Beijing via Kunming.

He mentioned immediate past prime minister Khaleda Zia and Chinese premier Wen Jaibao's reciprocal state visits in 2005, which he said witnessed the establishment of Sino-Bangladesh Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation featuring long-term friendship, equality and mutual benefit.

“The bilateral relations were injected with new impetus and stepped into a new era of advancement,” he said, expressing the hope that “with our joint efforts the Sino-Bangladeshi friendly relations and cooperation will be further consolidated and enhanced in the days to come for the benefit of our two peoples.”

Earlier, Press Club President Shaukat Mahmood, General Secretary Kamal Uddin Sabuj and immediate past president Reazuddin Ahmed also spoke.