China to provide assistance for capacity building

Bangladesh and China signed an agreement to this effect during official talks between State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar and State Councillor and Minister for Public Security of China Zhou Yongkang in Beijing on Monday, according to a message received in the city yesterday.

Bangladesh Ambassador to China Ashfaqur Rahman and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Security of China Meng Hongwei signed the agreement.

During the official talks, Babar exchanged views with his Chinese counterpart on a wide range of issues of common interest, including combating international terrorism, drug trafficking and counterfeit of currency.

The two ministers also discussed possible areas of cooperation in criminal investigation, traffic management, cyber patrolling, personnel training, coastal and border security, fire service and civil defence.

The Chinese state councillor and minister lauded Bangladesh government's success in combating terrorism and extremism, and stressed the importance of learning from each other's experiences in fighting this menace.

Earlier, the first joint working group meeting between the Home Ministry of Bangladesh and Public Security Ministry of China was held at the joint secretary level under an agreement on cooperation between the ministries signed in April 2005 during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Bangladesh.