Dhaka: Bangladesh and China signed three cooperation documents here on Friday as the two countries are seeking close cooperation and intelligence sharing over issues like terrorism, transnational crimes and cybercrimes.

The three signed documents are ‘Plan of Action on Law Enforcement Training Cooperation’, cooperation document on establishment of joint working group and letter of exchange on police equipment, reports the UNB.

‘These three documents have been signed for deeper understanding,’ Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters after a home-minister level meeting between the two countries at the Secretariat.

Chinese Minister and Party Committee Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security Zhao Kezhi and his Bangladesh counterpart Khan led the respective sides at the meeting that lasted for two hours from 10:00am.

The Home Minister said the issues related to counterterrorism, cybercrimes, militancy, transnational crimes, narcotics, fire service and visa issues were discussed at the meeting.

‘They (Chinese side) agreed that terrorism is a common challenge in the world and we’ll work jointly to address the challenge,’ he said.

The Home Minister said there will be exchange of views and delegations between the two countries in addition to intelligence sharing between the two countries. ‘These things were discussed.’

He said the two countries discussed the security of huge Chinese investment in Bangladesh and the Chinese side appreciated Bangladesh government’s support in protecting Chinese investment and for providing safety to them.

‘More Chinese investment to come…there’ll be more avenues of cooperation,’ said the Bangladesh Home Minister.

The two countries also discussed on visa arrival, especially for Bangladeshi tourists and businesspeople.

‘Chinese side responded positively, and they’ll make a formal announcement after their internal discussions,’ the Home Minister added.

Tripartite talks on Rohingya repatriation soon

Asaduzzaman Khan said the two sides discussed the Rohingya repatriation issues and laid emphasis on quick repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar.

The Chinese side laid emphasis on implementation of agreements signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation.

The Bangladesh side sought China’s role in repatriating Rohingya people from Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar, said the minister.

‘There’ll be a tripartite meeting among Bangladesh Foreign Minister (AH Mahmood Ali) and his Chinese and Myanmar counterparts where they will discuss on the issue further,’ Asaduzzaman Khan said.

The Home Minister said the Chinese side highly appreciated Bangladesh’s development led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government and assured of continuing cooperation to Bangladesh.

The documents were signed at the home minister-level meeting between the two countries, he said while briefing journalists after the meeting at the Secretariat.

Before the bilateral meeting that lasted for around two hours, the Chinese Minister was given guard of honour in presence of his Bangladesh counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan.

The Chinese Minister arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit to attend the meeting.

He met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday evening.

This is the highest-level visit so far from China this year.

The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China elevated to the ‘Strategic Partnership of Cooperation’, which maintains a new momentum of cooperation between the armed forces of the two nations, said the Chinese side.