Following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Cambodia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Bangladesh and Mongolia where he had very positive meetings to thank those nations’ leaders for their support for the One China policy, in the context of recent developments around Taiwan, and to discuss development strategies and cooperation projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
In Bangladesh, Wang met with Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen on Aug. 7, who expressed his enthusiasm about strengthening Bangladesh’s involvement in the BRI, which he said meshed very well with Dhaka’s own development strategy. Dr. Momen stressed that Bangladesh firmly adheres to the One China policy, that Taiwan is an integral part of China, and that Bangladesh and the world “needs the strength and voice of China,” Xinhua reported him saying.
It is imperative, he said, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter be upheld. The two discussed cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, the economy and building of industrial parks, also discussing the Global Development and Global Security Initiatives.
In Mongolia, China’s Foreign Ministry reported Aug. 7, Wang met with Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene in Ulaanbaatar, who is also the head of the People’s Party. He emphasized that China is a true friend with which Mongolia wants to work on joint development strategies and bilateral cooperation. Mongolia “firmly supports” the One China policy, he said, and rejects outside interference in China’s internal affairs, related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong.
“China is a responsible major country representing the future of Asia, and China’s development serves the common interests of all Asian countries,” the Prime Minister underscored. According to the Foreign Ministry website, he added that Mongolia firmly supports the further development and growth of its “friendly neighbor China and hopes to realize common development and prosperity with China.” Discussion focused on building ports and “corridors,” and coordinating the BRI with Mongolia’s “Steppe Road program,” and its long-term development perspective. The Steppe Road program aims to improve the Mongolian economy through transborder transportation projects, examples of which are a new highway linking Russia and China, a railway extension of the existing Mongolian railway system and building an oil and gas pipeline through Mongolian territory linking Russia and China. (http://belt.china.org.cn/2016-10/02/content_40160755.htm, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/wjbz_663308/activities_663312/202208/t20220808_10737247.html )
