BEIJING - China and Bangladesh pledged to further promote their comprehensive partnership of cooperation, on June 9.

The pledge was made during talks between Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who is also here for the second China-South Asia Expo in Kunming of southwest China’s Yunnan province.

Bangladesh is China’s important cooperative partner in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. China is ready to take the 40th anniversary of their ties in 2015 as an opportunity to promote mutual political trust, deepen cooperation, make closer communication and push forward their comprehensive partnership of cooperation, Li said.

Premier Li Keqiang (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

He noted that China attaches high importance to the relations with South Asian nations, and hoped Bangladesh would support China’s cooperation with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The premier added that China and Bangladesh share great potential for cooperation. China hopes to expand bilateral cooperation in areas including trade, investment, energy, communication, infrastructure construction, technology, agriculture, ocean and disaster prevention and relief.

China will encourage companies to invest in Bangladesh and set up joint ventures, and hopes Bangladesh can provide support in this regard, Li said.

Premier Li Keqiang (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

He also called on the two countries to promote the establishment of a joint rice research center to carry out hybrid rice experiment, demonstration and promotion; to expand intercommunication cooperation, make joint efforts for an early harvest program of the economic corridor along China, Bangladesh, India and Myanmar, and push for the signing of a four-party agreement this year to push forward the corridor construction; to strengthen multilateral cooperation, protect interests of developing countries and jointly cope with global challenges.

Wajed said China is a trustworthy friend of Bangladesh, and thanked China for its long-term assistance.

She said it is a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s foreign policy to deepen the comprehensive cooperative partnership with China.

Premier Li Keqiang (3rd R) and visiting Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed (3rd L) attend the signing ceremony of bilateral files after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

She added that Bangladesh was ready to strengthen high-level visits with China, expand their cooperation in such areas as trade, infrastructure construction, agriculture, technology, ocean, communication and culture, and jointly promote the building of the economic corridor along China, Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

The prime minister also welcomed Chinese companies to increase investment in Bangladesh and participate in its infrastructure construction, and vowed to play a positive role for the relations between SAARC and China.

Wajed has been invited by Li to pay an official visit to China from June 6 to 11. This is her third visit to China and the first one since she was elected as prime minister for the second time in January.