Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur today. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, July 10, 2025 (BSS) - China and Canada have expressed their commitment to strengthening trade, investment, and humanitarian cooperation with Bangladesh while assuring continued support to address the protracted 
Rohingya crisis.

The assurances came during separate meetings between Foreign Affairs Adviser 
Md Touhid Hossain and the Foreign Ministers of China and Canada on the 
sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Kuala 
Lumpur today, according to message received here. 

During his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides 
expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of bilateral relations and 
reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across priority sectors.

The Chinese Foreign Minister conveyed Beijing's full support for the ongoing 
reform initiatives under the interim government led by Chief Adviser 
Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, assuring cooperation in areas including medical 
tourism and water management.

Wang Yi also reiterated China's keen interest in expanding investments in 
Bangladesh, particularly in the textile, energy, and light engineering 
sectors, following the recent China Investment Conference held in Dhaka.

Foreign Adviser Hossain, expressing deep appreciation for China's political 
and development support, underscored the urgent need for a sustainable 
solution to the Rohingya crisis and sought Beijing's continued support in 
this regard. 

He also expressed Dhaka's expectations of Beijing's cooperation at regional 
and multilateral platforms, including the United Nations regarding the 
Rohingya crisis. 

Later in the day, the Foreign Adviser met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita 
Anand, where discussions centred on expanding bilateral relations with a 
focus on trade diversification and building resilience in the Bangladesh-
Canada partnership.

The Canadian Foreign Minister reaffirmed Ottawa's support in addressing the 
longstanding Rohingya crisis and lauded Bangladesh's continued humanitarian 
efforts in hosting the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Shameem Ahsan, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Forhadul Islam, and other senior 
officials were present during the meetings.

The Foreign Adviser is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the 32nd ARF 
Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to be held tomorrow, where Bangladesh is 
expected to highlight its commitment to regional peace, security, and 
sustainable development under the current interim government.