<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <title>Articles</title> <!--................start the gellary.......................--> <link href="themes/6/js-image-slider.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script src="themes/6/mcVideoPlugin.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="themes/6/js-image-slider.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link href="css/generic.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <!--................end the gellary.......................--> <!--................start the dd menu.......................--> <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/style_menu.css" type="text/css" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/script.js"></script> <!--................end the dd menu.......................--> <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/style.css" type="text/css" /> <!--................start the photo gellary.......................--> <!-- Add jQuery library --> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.js"></script><button spid="{0.6520530250436973}" id="SEARCH_PREDICT_EVAL" hidden="true"></button> <!-- Add mousewheel plugin (this is optional) --> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery_003.js"></script> <!-- Add fancyBox main JS and CSS files --> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery_005.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/jquery.css" media="screen"> <!-- Add Button helper (this is optional) --> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/jquery_002.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery_004.js"></script> <!-- Add Thumbnail helper (this is optional) --> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/jquery_003.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery.js"></script> <!-- Add Media helper (this is optional) --> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery_002.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { /* * Simple image gallery. 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Over the past 94 years, China's military, which had experienced numerous battles and endured countless hardships, has dazzled its history with glorious victories and notable achievements. The PLA traces its roots to the "Nanchang Uprising" of August 1, 1927, the day the Communists led by stalwarts Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and many others rose against the nationalist forces.</span> <span style="width: 100%;"><img src="images/nafiz_img.jpg" alt="" style="margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 10px; width:100%;"></span> </div> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Over the past 75 years, China has undergone dramatic transformations and epoch-making changes. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have successfully opened the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, advancing and expanding Chinese modernization. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible historical course. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC made decisions to further deepen reforms and promote Chinese modernization, laying out a grand blueprint for advancing the great cause of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursuing national rejuvenation. The bright prospects of China's development will certainly create new and greater opportunities for countries worldwide including Bangladesh. </p> <h4> <a style="font-weight:400; color:#4285F3; border-bottom: 1px dotted #4285F3; font-size: 18px;" href="https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMM6dlQswx_6qAw?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en"> Latest news of The Daily Ovserver now in Google News. </a> </h4> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The comparative study of Chinese economic development reveals that in 1949, China was one of the world's poorest countries. However, China has moved from an impoverished, underdeveloped country to a global economic giant and a major player in global governance. China has successfully pulled more than 800 million people out of poverty. China is on track to becoming the strongest growth engine globally with its contribution to the global GDP standing at around 18 percent. The latest economic data has confirmed that China's GDP grew by 5.2 percent in 2023. It is the top trading partner with over 125 countries across the globe. In 2022, China maintained its position as the second FDI destination in the world. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">At constant prices, the total economic output in 2023 had increased 223 times compared to 1952, with an annual growth rate of 7.9 percent. Specifically, China's GDP surpassed 126 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion US dollars) in 2023. The GDP in 1952 was just 67.9 billion yuan. The living standard of the Chinese people has progressed from mere subsistence to moderate prosperity in all aspects. Over the past 75 years, the per capita disposable income of Chinese people has increased 76-fold, adjusted for inflation. The total grain output rose from 113.18 million tonnes in 1949 to 695.41 million tones in 2023. Industrial production capacity has been constantly improved. In 2023, the added value of the manufacturing industry topped 33 trillion yuan, and the services sector has gradually grown to become the largest industry in the national economy. China's average contribution to global economic growth exceeded 30 percent, making it the largest driving force behind world economic growth. In 2023, the contribution rate of final consumption expenditure to economic growth reached 82.5 percent, further enhancing the role of consumption as the main engine. As an innovation-oriented country, China has continuously strengthened its growth momentum. China's ranking in the Global Innovation Index rose from 34th in 2012 to 12 in 2023. The country has set the ambitious targets of peaking its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China's primary and old-age insurance plans covered about 1.34 billion people and more than 1 billion people respectively. The country's education system has improved significantly, with high enrollment rates in secondary and higher education. The rate of domestic savings is 43 percent of GDP in China, much higher than in any other economy in the world. In summary, China has become an icon of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, which collectively surpassed US$ 146 billion in 2023. Emerging industries such as biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology also witnessed significant expansion, with their combined output exceeding USD 55 billion. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Equal access to food, education, and healthcare has contributed to the development of a scientifically advanced society in China. The Chinese people have built technologically advanced infrastructure, new cities, ports, airports, and high-speed rail networks that are more efficient than their capitalistic counterparts in America and Europe. China's Lunar and Mars mission exemplifies the significant progress the country has made in space exploration and scientific innovation. Despite the rapid modernization, the resilient people have not forgotten to reclaim their cultural heritage, celebrating their diversity through art, culture, film, music, literature, and fashion. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The Communist Party of China (CPC) seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation and dedicates itself to promoting human progress and world harmony. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major proposal introduced by President Xi Jinping based on his deep insights into the future of humanity and the development trends of China and the world, intending to realize mutually beneficial cooperation and shared development for various countries. At present, China has signed over 200 cooperation agreements related to the BRI with 152 countries on all five continents, covering 83 percent of all nations that have diplomatic relations with China, and 32 major international organizations. The BRI's primary objective is to construct an extensive network of infrastructure development that includes transportation, energy, and mining projects, railways, highways, ports, airports, and pipelines, connecting China to numerous countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. China has provided substantial aid to the Global South over the past decade and established various organizations such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which reflect China's principles of equality, inclusiveness, and sustainability. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Under the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and Global Security Initiative (GSI) successively from 2021 and 2023. These three initiatives focus on addressing world development challenges, eliminating global security dilemmas, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It is time to expose the hypocrisies of the West and celebrate the achievements of the Chinese people over the last 75 years. These achievements offer hope for working-class people around the world. China is the first to reduce tariffs to zero for all goods from least developed countries including Bangladesh. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China and Bangladesh are good neighbors with mutual political trust. China is our time-tested friend. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with respect and equality, and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation. China is committed to helping the development of Bangladesh, and the BRI cooperation projects have created historic miracles for Bangladesh's development. Recently, the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said that China and Bangladesh are traditionally friendly neighbors and comprehensive partners. No matter what changes have taken place in the domestic situation of Bangladesh, China's commitment to developing China-Bangladesh relations is unchanged. He also said, China firmly supports Bangladesh in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, maintaining national unity and stability. Both the country is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China at 75 has made the successful transition from a regional power to a global power, or as President Xi Jinping told the CPC's 19th Congress on October 18, 2017 in Beijing that China has now " become a great power in the world, and it is time for us to take centre stage in the world and to make a greater contribution to humankind"</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Today, China has become the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget, the second largest contributor to peace-keeping operations, and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has always been committed to promoting world peace and development. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The writer is Chairman of the Centre for East Asia Foundation</p> </div> <!-- Chinas 75 year end--> <!-- PLA-2022 start--> <div> <br> <h3>China’s PLA quest for global peace and development</h3><br> <span>By <a href="https://bangladeshpost.net/authors/nasim-mahmud1191">Nasim Mahmud</a> <br> <br> <img src="images/Nasim Mahmud.jpg" alt="Nasim Mahmud" width="100"> <br> <br> <span><b>Published </b>: 28 Jul 2022 08:17 PM | <b>Updated </b>: 28 Jul 2022 08:19 PM</span> </span> <img src="images/pla-2022.jpg" style="width: 98%; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt=""> <br> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">August 1, 2022 marks the 95th founding anniversary of the People's Libera¬tion Army (PLA) of China. The PLA is an army of the people built and led by the Communist Party of China (CPC).</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Over the last 95 years, the PLA has built on past achievements and grown stronger through a battle with good development results. The PLA has won timeless honors for the CPC and the Chinese people. They are the backbone for China to preserve the nature governance as well as national dignity. The Chinese people have always loved peace. They have never started a war or infringed on an inch of foreign soil. China sticks to the path of peaceful development as outlined in the constitution of the CPC and the People's Republic of China (PRC). </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The PLA has reshaped its leadership and management system, optimized its structure, and reformed its military policies and institutions since 2015. Under the pragmatic leadership and guidance of President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the reform of national defense and the modernization of the military have expanded significantly. The PLA has transformed from a quantity-oriented to a quality-conscious force. President Xi Jinping laid out plans in 2017 to complete the modernization of the PLA by 2035 and transform it into a world-class military by 2049. The Chinese defense budget in 2022 is 1.45 trillion (about $230 billion), which is an increase of 7.1% over the last year. The increased defense expenditure will help to provide the forces with better training and more advanced equipment. It will also support the military in tackling non-conventional security threats. Therefore, the increase in defense expenditure is not only to maintain its own security but also to help maintain world peace. China has also reassured that it will not pose any military threat even as it has accelerated its military modernization and ramped up its defense expenditure. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The PLA has changed over the last two decades due to expanding defense budgets, technological acquisitions, and a raft of reforms that focus on making the defense sector more competitive. China now has the ability to develop advanced fighters, aircraft carriers, and new-generation intercontinental ballistic missiles, drones, and other advanced platforms. The PLA has also sought to modernize its capabilities and improve its proficiencies across all warfare domains so that as a joint force it can conduct a range of land, air, and maritime operations as well as space, counter-space, and electronic warfare, and cyber operations. China has been boosting up research into all sorts of missiles, from those that can destroy satellites in space to advance nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, as part of an ambitious modernization scheme. The PLA should now endeavor to become a higher-caliber military, conduct training under computer-simulated conditions, and enhance its integrated combat capability based on extensive application of information technology. The Chinese military forces have significantly downsized their active forces, with the previous 18 group armies reorganized into 13 new ones. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Chinese armed forces have made great progress in independent innovation in strategic, cutting-edge, and disruptive technologies, and succeeded in developing strategic high-tech products such as the Tianhe-2 Supercomputer. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The PLA is optimizing the overall composition of weaponry and equipment. A system is created that mainly comprises new high-tech weaponry and equipment, such as Type 15 tanks, type 052D destroyers, J-20 fighters, and DF-26 intermediate and long-range ballistic missiles. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The launching ceremony of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, on June 17, 2022, in Shanghai, China.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Among the most crucial areas of Chinese military modernization is the expansion of its naval capabilities. China has launched a new-generation aircraft carrier on 17 June, 2022. The launch marked a milestone in the country’s push for a “blue water navy” capable of operating far from Chinese shores as well as President Xi Jinping’s multiyear drive to modernize the country’s military. The launching ceremony was held in Shanghai's Jiangnan shipyard and the event was attended by General Xu Qiliang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Vice-Chairman of the CMC. The aircraft carrier Fujian, also known as the Type-003, is the 'first electromagnetic Catapult' aircraft carrier wholly designed and built domestically in China. Its full load displacement is over 80,000 tonnes. Paris-based Naval News says this carrier catapults China’s navy into the 21st century and that it’s the first non-US carrier in the world “ to even come close” to a US carrier. China has two other aircraft carriers in service. The Liaoning was commissioned in 2012, and the Shandong entered service in 2019. These warships use a Ski-Jump style platform for jets to take off and do not have a catapult system. It’s heard that the next aircraft carrier China plans to build is expected to be nuclear-powered.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China's Blue Helmets have become a key force in United Nations Peacekeeping. Chinese armed forces are actively participating in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). China is the biggest contributor of peacekeeping troops among five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second-largest financial contributor to the UN Peacekeeping program, has the potential to become a world leader in Peacekeeping. Since the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, the Chinese military has not only made outstanding contributions to the prevention and control of the pandemic in China but also has been actively cooperating with other countries’ defense establishments. Currently, the PLA is more engaged in international military and security dialogues. What is worth mentioning is that the military-to-military ties China seeks to strengthen are not based on alliances, are not confrontational, and do not target any third country.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Peace needs to be fought for and safeguarded. China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and hopes that other countries will also pursue peaceful development and cooperation. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe said at the last Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore that China's development is not a threat to others. On the contrary, it is a huge contribution to global peace and development. General Wei Fenghi also said the Chinese armed forces will fight to the very end if anyone dares to split Taiwan out of China. Taiwan is an integral part of China, the Taiwan question belongs to China's internal affairs, and national reunification will definitely become a reality. If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate to fight, and will resolutely crush any 'Taiwan independence' attempts at all costs, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China has eradicated absolute poverty and achieved a landmark victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It is now on a new journey toward socialist modernization. China today is completely different from the China of ten years ago and it certainly will continue to change over the next ten years. It is no longer a rising power. It has in fact arrived as a world power who is a decisive force for world peace and development.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><strong>The writer is the Editor of The Belt and Road Magazine, Bangladesh.</strong> </p> </div> <!-- PLA-2022 end--> <!-- PLA-2021 start--> <div> <br> <br> <h3>PLA in the new era and Bangladesh-China defence relations</h3> <span>Published : Sunday, 1 August, 2021 at 12:00 AM </span> <br> <span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.observerbd.com/author.php?n=Nasim-Mahmud" style="color:red;">Nasim Mahmud</a></span> <br> <br> <div style="display: flex;padding-right: 6px;"> <span style=" text-align: justify; padding-right: 16px; ">August 1, 2021 marks the 94th anniversary of founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past 94 years, China's military, which had experienced numerous battles and endured countless hardships, has dazzled its history with glorious victories and notable achievements. The PLA traces its roots to the "Nanchang Uprising" of August 1, 1927, the day the Communists led by stalwarts Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and many others rose against the nationalist forces.</span> <span><img src="images/Nasim Mahmud.jpg" alt="" style="margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 10px;"></span> </div> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> It played a key role in the successful culmination of the Communist revolution in 1949. The Chinese PLA was founded and has been led by the CPC. It has been performing the CPC's ideological, organizational and political framework. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The PLA is the world's largest standing army with an estimated two million service members, it protects the world's fastest-rising economic power. The priority mission of the PLA is resolutely safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, deter and resist aggression, to safeguard national political security, the people's security and social stability, oppose and contain "Taiwan independence", safeguard China's national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security, protect China's maritime rights and interests, promote China's overseas interests, and to support the sustainable development of the country. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China's military modernization began long before Xi Jinping became chairman of the CMC in November 2012. But the pace and scope of that effort have greatly accelerated under President Xi Jinping. Key changes includes introduction of advanced weapons and equipment, structural reforms to make the PLA a more effective force and root out corruption from the Chinese society. Today China is building stronger armed forces and has changed its defensive national law in January 2021. It was approved at the session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. There are several reasons why the national defense law was amended during this time. </p> <h4> <a style="font-weight:400; color:#4285F3; border-bottom: 1px dotted #4285F3; font-size: 18px;" href="https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMM6dlQswx_6qAw?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en"> Latest news of The Daily Ovserver now in Google News. </a> </h4> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The Chinese nation has always advocated peace and opposed militarism. China is speeding up its defense and military modernization and make an integrated effort to build a prosperous country and a strong military, according to the draft outline of the 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025) for the National Economic and Social Development and the Long Range Objectives through the year 2035. The Chinese officials designated 2027 will be the Centennial anniversary of the PLA - as the year in which China will field a "Fully Modern Army". </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The Chinese military has made impressive strides in the past decade. The PLA has achieved progress in key technological areas, ranging from precision-guided missiles to advance surface ships, combat aircraft and is rapidly advancing in space technology. Currently, Chinese defence strategy places great emphasis on 'integrated networked attack and defense air, sea, land, cyber and space operations. The PLA has upgraded its command, control, communications, computers and intelligence surveillance and its ability to conduct "electronic warfare". The Chinese call this "information oriented" warfare, and with it, they hope to transform the PLA into a modern, network-enabled fighting force, capable of projecting sustained power in the regions. By 2025 China in regional terms will have completed the unprecedented development into both a continental and maritime military power. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> In recent years, the Chinese military has conducted exchanges and cooperation with counterparts in other countries, provided abundant international public security products, responded to common security threats and challenges, and made important contributions to maintain world peace and stability and build a community with a shared future for mankind. All these demonstrate that the PLA is committed to honoring its international responsibilities and obligations.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) reaffirmed the CPC's absolute leadership over the PLA which is a "fundamental guarantee" for the army to maintain its great cohesion, creativity, and combat capabilities. The country's military is deeply rooted in its people and has made great contributions to achieving national independence as well as the liberation of the people in terms of economic development, poverty eradication, flood-fighting, rural vitalization, agricultural demonstration, village governance, educational assistance, disaster relief, medical facilitation, rural infrastructure, water supply, road communications, conduct patriotic and national defense education activities and protecting people's life and property.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Following a stronger collaboration with the civilian science and technology community, the PLA also put greater emphasis on new capabilities such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and big data. This reflects a shift to what the PLA terms "intelligentization" of the modern battlefield. The PLA is also expanding its research collaboration with universities outside China. Since 2010, the PLA has sponsored more than 2,500 military scientists and engineers to study at foreign universities, those scientists work in strategic and emerging technology sectors such as quantum physics, signal processing, cryptography, navigation technology, autonomous vehicles, radar, explosions and supercomputers.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China's traditional reluctance to intervene has become a major contributor to UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). China is the second-largest donor to the UNPKO fund. It has contributed more than 10 billion US dollars to the UNPKO. So far it has dispatched about 40,000 peacekeepers to 25 missions. Their peacekeepers have built and rehabilitated roads over 17,000 Kilometres and are disposed of more than 14,000 landmines and unexploded ordnance.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Defence ties between Bangladesh and China are considered a major strength of our bilateral ties. Military-to-military relations are an important part of the overall bilateral relation. The countries are committed to further enhance existing defense cooperation and join hands in safeguarding regional peace and stability. Notably, China is the only country with which Bangladesh signed a defence agreement. The friendship and brotherhood between the two armed forces are strong and time-tested. And China is the biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh. China supplied military hardware and many consignments in the 1980's free of charge or on special goodwill price. Bangladesh defence forces are equipped with Chinese arms including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapon systems. The Bangladesh Navy has purchased two submarines from China in 2016 which are armed with torpedoes and mines. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">This has made Bangladesh Navy a "Three Dimensional Force" which was designed by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Moreover, China provides advanced training facilities to the officers of Bangladesh Army. Both countries are striving to push the Bangladesh-China strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. Bangladesh is staunch supporter of "One China Policy" and continues to support China resolutely on issues concerning Hong Kong, Taiwan and human rights. It is worth mentioning that the PLA hospital ship "Peace Ark" has visited Chittagong port twice, respectively in 2010 and 2013 and provided free medical treatment to destitute peoples. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defence General Wei Fenghe paid a successful visit to Bangladesh in April, 2021. General Wei met with Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and former Chief of General Staff General Aziz Ahmed. During the meeting, Abdul Hamid said, Bangladesh and China are time tested friends and reliable strategic partners. In return, General Wei said, China and Bangladesh have been friendly neighbours since ancient times and have a long history of bilateral ties. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">He also expressed a keen desire to "jointly maintain regional peace and stability" while thwarting "alliance and hegemonic influences of external powers in South Asia". On the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, the Chinese Defence Minister paid a rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth centenary. He lauded the economic development and progress of Bangladesh achieved under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He assured China's substantial cooperation in achieving Bangladesh's Vision-2041. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0; font-style:italic;">The writer is a geopolitical analyst </p> </div> <!-- PLA-2021 end--> <!-- CPCs birth centenary start--> <div> <br> <br> <h3>CPC’s birth centenary</h3> <span>Published : Saturday, 3 July, 2021 at 12:00 AM </span> <br> <span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.observerbd.com/author.php?n=Nafees-Sakhawat" style="color:red;">Nafees Sakhawat</a></span> <br> <br> <div style="display: flex;padding-right: 6px;"> <span style=" text-align: justify; padding-right: 16px; ">July 1 2021, The Communist Party of China (CPC), the political ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC), celebrated its 100th birthday since it was founded in Shanghai in 1921. The CPC has grown from a small Party of some 57 members represented by 13 deputies back in 1921. Currently, the CPC has grown into the world's largest political party, with more than 90 million members and 4.6 million primary-level party organizations.</span> <span><img src="images/Nafees Sakhawat.jpg" alt="" style="margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 10px;"></span> </div> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br> With long-term armed struggles and the close coordination of various aspects and forms of struggles, the CPC finally achieved a victory in 1949 which under the leadership of the working class and based on the workers-peasants' alliance, upholds the people's democratic rule. The victory and success of the CPC and people were due to strong leadership and struggling in difficult conditions. It was from these difficult experiences that China succeeded. In 1945 Mao Zedong became the Chairman of the Chinese Communist. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Chairman Mao Zedong was a Communist revolutionary who became the father of communist China in 1949. His thoughts influenced the formation of the new People's Republic of China as a state system and social life and still influence the Chinese political life prominently. On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, marking the beginning of a new historical era in China, a period of an absolute rule of the CPC.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The emergence of the CPC was a major event, which profoundly changed the course of Chinese history in modern times, the fate and future of the Chinese people and nation, and the direction and pattern of world development. Over the past 100 years, under the pragmatic leadership of the CPC, China has become the world's biggest market and second-largest economy and the first developing country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on poverty alleviation. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The CPC has managed to preserve the unity and harmony of 1.4 billion multi-ethnic people. The Chinese people ardently support the CPC leadership. According to a survey conducted by the American Harvard Kennedy School that spanned over 10 years, Chinese citizens' satisfaction with and support for the CPC and the Chinese government is as high as 93 percent. Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has taken the happiness of the people and rejuvenation of the nation as its aspiration and led the people to fight for a better life over the decades. Now Chinese people enjoy more freedom of expression and access to information.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The legal system inside China has improved, and people feel safer and more secure in China. Many people in the West think that there's no democracy in China as the country is under the rule of one party, the Communist Party of China (CPC). But the fact is that China's Socialist democracy has been developed based on its national context after numerous trails, just like the country's political system. China's socialist democracy, with the feature of party's leadership, ensures the consistency of policymaking as well as the sustainability of development goals.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Beginning in 1978, the CPC followed the needs of national development and the will of the people to carry out reform and opening-up policies. Deng Xiaoping emerges as a paramount leader of the PRC, widely recognized as the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up policies, which have lasted more than four decades. As a result, the Chinese economy transformed from a centralized economy to a market-driven economy. China had embarked on the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics that had been established in the Deng era. The basic line, principles, and policies formulated in this period are still employed by the CPC. China should be thankful to Deng Xiaoping for his remarkable role in introducing China to the world.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China is expected to declare a moderately prosperous society in all respect in the middle of this year, which means that the country has achieved its first centenary goal on schedule in 2021. In 2049, China will achieve its second centenary goal of building "a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious". Under the CPC leadership, China has established a socialist market economic system and made outstanding achievements, this signifies a great deepening and exploration of Marxism.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">In over four decades following the reform and opening-up, China eradicated absolute poverty by lifting more than 850 million people out of poverty. This contributed to 70 percent of poverty relief around the world. In 2020, Chinese GDP exceeded100 trillion Yuan (15.42 trillion US dollars) and its per capita income rose above 10000 US dollars. China's total imports and exports soared from 20.6 billion US dollars to more than 4.5 trillion US dollars, making the country the world's top trading nation.</p> <img src="images/bdc.jpg" style="width: 98%; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt=""> <br> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China has also proposed several approaches for global governance and development, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank, Forum on China-Africa cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China is a huge country and the CPC is the backbone of China. It provides the country with a vision and transits this vision into reality. Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese President and also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), when came to the office nine years ago, he made a big promise. Xi said, "We'll continue to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">This grave responsibility is for the well-being of the people". Xi soon used the "Chinese Dream" to inspire people and provide hope. The 'Chinese Dream' now has comprehensive theories and content. And Xi's thoughts are the basis for China's overall development in the long term. It is undeniable that China has made gigantic progress in many areas under Xi's magnificent leadership.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">In fighting COVID-19, the CPC values the people's lives and health as paramount. The key to China's success in bringing the pandemic under control is that the CPC and the Chinese government have organized efforts properly and that the Chinese people have a strong sense of discipline. More than 4.6 million of its primary-level organizations served as strongholds against the pandemic. Nearly 39 million CPC members fought against the COVID-19 at the front line. More than 400 CPC members have defended other's lives and safety at the cost of their own.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China is a firm believer in making COVID-19 vaccines as a global public product. During the fight against the pandemic, the Socialist system with Chinese characteristics has shown great advantages, and the CPC, as well as the Chinese people have shown a strong sense of mission and pro-activity. China has provided more than 350 million doses of vaccines to the international community, including vaccine aid to more than 80 countries, exporting vaccines to 43 countries and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine research, development and production to date.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Last year, when COVID-19 propelled, China and Bangladesh stood in strong solidarity in the fight against COVID-19, in coordination with the international community as a whole. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination program is very successful. Bangladesh has already received 1100000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines as gifts from China. The Bangladesh government has also taken an initiative for co-production with the Chinese companies in Bangladesh.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China's achievements in development are attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC. China has been actively taking part in international affairs and committed to safeguarding multilateralism. Historically, China used to be the most powerful country in the world, but never invaded or plundered other countries. Since the founding of the PRC, China has followed an independent foreign policy of peace, and promoted the establishment of a solid and reasonable international order.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China's more proactive action in setting the agenda for global growth and governance is exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).The initiative proposed by the Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to promote trade and financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity, IT connectivity, health security and bolstering people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">By linking countries and regions belonged to more than 60 percent of the world population and 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, the BRI is a public road open for all. All interested countries can join to take part in the cooperation and share its benefits. Bangladesh is also a proud member of this comprehensive initiative.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Over the decades, China has made miraculous achievements in various fields, especially in environmental protection, infrastructure development, education, health care, sound macroeconomic management, good governance with strong delivery of public services, social inclusiveness, aerospace, international humanitarian relief, military power, e-commerce, agricultural demonstration, UN peace-keeping mission, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G high -speed mobile networks, which would not be possible without the exceptional leadership of the CPC. At the beginning of the 21st century, China had no high-speed railways. Today China has the world's largest network of high-speed railways. The network is expected to double in length again, to 70000 kilometers, by 2035.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">According to the 14thfive year plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and Long- Range Objectives through the year 2035, an essential part of China's modernization would be the harmony between Man and Nature. To mitigate the impact of climate change, China has announced that it would achieve Carbon neutrality by 2060.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">China's space agency had an extraordinary gift for the ruling Communist Party's 100thbirthday: a rover on Mars. The historic landing on May 15, 2021 of Zhurong, a rover named after the god of fire in ancient Chinese folklore. It not only demonstrated the country's growing capabilities in space but also served a timely reminder of how far the country has walked since its founding.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Recently, Chinese lawmakers voted for an anti-food waste law. The law, designed to help establish a long-term mechanism to preventing food waste is vital to ensure national food security. Approximately, 18 billion kg of food is wasted every year in China's urban catering industry, and over 35 billion kg of grain loss is estimated at the pre-consumption stages. The law will also help promote social awareness and in promoting a healthy, rational, green life style and better consumption behavior of the citizens.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">A series of events were held to celebrate the birth centenary of the CPC, reawakening collective memories and patriotic sentiment among the people. The activities included an ongoing party-wide campaign on CPC history learning and education. Major publications including a book on the CPC's100-year history were compiled and released. Commemorative stamps and coins were issued to focus on grass-roots party activities and promote "Red Tourism".</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">Elementary students in some cities were advised to create paintings and calligraphy extolling the "Chinese Dream". Buses and subways were broadcasting nationalistic messages about revolutionary heroes with television networks releasing documentaries and dramas related to the anniversary such as "Mining Town", a popular series that depicts the Party's poverty alleviation works in China.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) also held a series of activities to mark the anniversary, including theoretical seminars and themed forums, as well as a massive exhibition at the Military Museum on the Chinese People's Revolution. The Military also produced and released several movies. Central Military Commission (CMC) conferred distinguished officers and soldiers with awards.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">More than 2000 years ago, Confucius said, "yan bi xin, xing bi guo", which means "One must be true to their word and determined in their work". The CPC has remained true to the phrase throughout its development process and commitment. Chinese President Xi Jinping said, "The Chinese civilization emphasizes that 'word must be kept, promise must be delivered' and 'with dishonest people, reliability becomes questionable'.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;">---------------------------------------------</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0; font-style: italic;">The writer is a research associate at the Centre for East Asia Foundation and editorial assistant at 'The Belt and Road Magazine' Bangladesh</p> </div> <!-- CPCs birth centenary end--> <!-- Nafees Sakhawat article (Daily Star) start--> <div><br> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thedailystar.net/author/nafees-sakhawat" style="font-size:15px">Nafees Sakhawat</a> <br> <img src="images/Nafees Sakhawat.jpg" alt="" style="margin-top: 10px;margin-bottom: 10px;"> <br> <span style="color:gray;"> <span>Tue Oct 6, 2020 12:00 AM</span> <br> <span>Last update on: Tue Oct 6, 2020 01:02 AM</span> </span> <br> <br> <h3 align="center">China-Bangladesh relations stronger than ever before</h3> <img src="images/Sheikh Hasina.png" style="width: 98%; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt=""> <br> <span style="color:gray;">PM Sheikh Hasina with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Star</span> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br> <br> Over the past 45 years, the relationship between China and Bangladesh has been developing, with mutual cooperation and friendship on both sides. In the international arena, Bangladesh has, to the best of its capacity, maintained unwavering support for the "One China Policy" and China's peaceful rise. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was associated with China during his political life. He travelled to China in 1952 for an international conference. During the visit, he met Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the heroes of the Chinese Revolution. He was impressed by New China. After the independence of Bangladesh, the work of establishing diplomatic relations with China under the leadership of Bangabandhu began after overcoming many adversities. </p> <h4> <a style="font-weight:400; color:#4285F3; border-bottom: 1px dotted #4285F3; font-size: 18px;" href="https://news.google.com/publications/CAAiECW73usLivqPCSeQRsSUvRQqFAgKIhAlu97rC4r6jwknkEbElL0U"> For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. </a> </h4> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br> <br> Sadly, Bangabandhu was killed before formal diplomatic relations were initiated, but undoubtedly, it was in his hands that the work of establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China began. Last year, the present Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming and all diplomats from the Chinese Embassy visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. At that time, they paid homage to Bangabandhu. The curator of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum said that the Chinese embassy was the first foreign mission of Bangladesh, whose diplomats had visited the historic building together. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming said, "China will show the highest respect to the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his birth centenary this year, which also corresponds with the celebration of the 45th anniversary of Dhaka-Beijing diplomatic ties. While all of Bangladesh is celebrating "Mujib Borsho", the Chinese embassy will also implement initiatives to celebrate this significant event with our Bangladeshi friends to show the Chinese people's highest consideration and respect towards this great man." </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Following in the footsteps of Bangabandhu, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proved her worth as a visionary leader by leading the unprecedented development of Bangladesh in recent years. Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, Bangladesh is ready to move ahead alongside China as a reliable ally in the days to come. Already, relations between the two countries have reached a unique height. In recent years, China has established itself as a major development partner of Bangladesh. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Proposed in 2013 by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, The Belt and Road Initiative has become a most popular platform for international cooperation, with very bright prospects in a world mired with protectionism and unilateralism. Bangladesh is a proud member of this initiative and can play a significant role in the advancement of this epic project. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> On October 14, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bangladesh on a historic visit. During that visit, China announced huge investments in various sectors of Bangladesh. The implementation of those investment projects is now in full swing. Among the ongoing projects are the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Karnafuli Tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong Highway Four Lane Upgradation, Payra Port Development, Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Railway Project, Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Dhaka-Sylhet Four Lane Highway etc. Mutual cooperation is not limited to the government level but is also at the private level. Cultural exchanges between the people of both countries underwent significant developments in 2019, as over 37,000 Bangladeshi tourists travelled to China and more than 5,000 Bangladeshi students are studying in China. It is undeniable that the unprecedented development of Bangladesh's agriculture and garments sector is also due to the support of Chinese technology. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Moreover, a total of 8,256 Bangladeshi products will now be exempted from tariff when exporting to China. Bangladesh has described this as a success in economic diplomacy. This treatment is in addition to the preferential duties that we are already enjoying from China under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China has established itself as Bangladesh's most trusted ally in the defence sector as well. China's valuable involvement in water resource development and management also has enormous potential for Bangladesh. Recently, there have been reports of China's cooperation in the overall development of the Teesta basin, which, if implemented, could radically change certain sectors, including agriculture and industry, in a large area of North Bengal. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Apart from infrastructural development, China is doing commendable work in cultural exchanges with Bangladesh. The Confucius Institute has been set up in various institutions of higher learning in the country. To facilitate Chinese language education for Bangladeshis, Chinese language courses have been introduced in various educational institutions including the University of Dhaka and North South University. Every year, a large number of Bangladeshi students are going to study in different universities of China with scholarships. Cultural groups are coming and going every year as part of cultural interactions. However, these activities should be allowed to spread outside Dhaka city. Organising carnivals, fairs and exhibitions at the district level can be fruitful in this regard. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China has also established itself as Bangladesh's only all-weather friend by extending a hand of sympathy and support to Bangladesh during ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. China's well-planned and regulated strategies to dealing with the pandemic is an important part of learning for the world. China had earlier announced that if the Covid-19 vaccine was discovered, Bangladesh would be given priority in obtaining it. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> In Bangladesh, a Chinese company has been allowed to run the third phase trial of the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine. Under the pragmatic initiative of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has sent medical accessories, including masks, gowns, caps and gloves, to China. The Prime Minister also wrote a letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping. In return, the Chinese government sent 10 members of a medical expert team to support Bangladesh's fight against Covid-19. The medical experts have provided consultations regarding pandemic control, patients' treatment and laboratory tests, and guidance and training for Bangladeshi medical professionals. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China has also provided Bangladesh with over three million surgical and N-95 masks, over 110,000 sets of personal protective equipment and a large number of test kits, thermometers, ventilators, and sanitisers. Moreover, the Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said it would lend USD 100 million to Bangladesh to help the country deal with the pandemic. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The Chinese president has outlined the vision of the Chinese dream, which is to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation. The steady process of attaining the Chinese dream will not only benefit China, but also the world at large. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, the Chinese dream of national renewal is about the pursuit of happiness by every Chinese citizen, and it has much in common with the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, as we are on the way to achieving the goal of becoming a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.We are hopeful that Bangladesh and China, with joint efforts, will be able to develop and maintain practices and policies that will make these dreams come true. </p> <br> <span style=" font-weight: 600; ">Nafees Sakhawat is Research Associate at the Centre for East Asia (Foundation).</span> </div> <!-- Nafees Sakhawat article (Daily Star) end--> <!-- Poverty Alleviation China Corrected start--> <div> <br> <br> <h3 align="center">China Deserves Praise for Poverty Eradication<br><br><span style="font-weight:normal;">- Nafees Sakhawat</span></h3> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br> <br> On July 1, 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Grand celebrations were held nationwide. Under its leadership, China has achieved spectacular development and succeeded in eradicating extreme poverty all over the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping formally declared complete victory in alleviating absolute poverty in the country during a conference in Beijing on 25 February 2021. The announcement of this great miracle in the human history of poverty alleviation came four months before the centenary of the founding of the CPC which leads the world's most populous nation. Over the past century, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in the battle against poverty with unwavering faith and will. The CPC leadership made historic achievements in wiping out absolute poverty facing the Chinese nation for thousands of years. No country has been able to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in such a short time. This is one of the greatest world stories of the 21st century. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Moreover, China has already achieved its first centennial development goal- building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and is marching in confident strides toward the second centennial goal of building the nation into a great modern socialist country. And the country meets its poverty alleviation targets under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 10 years ahead of schedule. Eliminating poverty in a country with a population of 1.4 billion may sound too ambitious as a mission of impossible for some western critics. But it is a mission that must be accomplished for China because achieving mutual prosperity is a goal of socialism. The CPC has achieved such commendable achievements without following the western path. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Chinese poverty alleviation is a political economy theory of distribution conducive to both poverty reduction and development. Its core principle is to maintain the goal of national common prosperity and relies on precise means to build a 'pro-poor market' in which the government, market and society jointly work to emancipate the productivity of the poor and make them contributors to growth. The result is a more balanced and fairer development by turning the recipients of targeted poverty alleviation into productive members of society. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The key to effective poverty alleviation lies in identifying the real poor people. The strategy of targeted poverty alleviation is a magic weapon for China to win the battle. China has identified every poor individual in every village and a personal file is created in the national poverty alleviation information system. The Chinese government has established a poverty eradication management network with the central government acting as the coordinator, provincial governments taking overall responsibility, and municipal and county governments overseeing implementation. China has been applying 10 poverty models to alleviate rural poverty since reform and opening-up started in 1978. The models are poverty alleviation through financial aid, micro-finance, industrial development, relief for work, education, science and technology, relocation, village-wise advancement, mobilize the social forces and, systematization of individual's positive factors. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The political will of the ruling CPC has played an important role, which put the fight against poverty and China's rural revitalization high on the agenda of the leadership. From 1978 to 2020, China's GDP rapidly increased from 367.9 billion Yuan ($ 56.67 billion) to 101.6 trillion Yuan ($ 15.7 trillion), upgrading the country from a low income to a middle-income one. The per capita disposable income of the rural poor people increased from RMB 6079 in 2013 to RMB 12,588 in 2020, up by 11.6% per annum on average. By the end of 2020 impoverished areas had gained 1.1 million kilometers of reconstructed highways and 35000 kilometers of new railways, and over 98% of poor villages had access to Optical Fibre Communications (OFC) and 4G mobile network. A total of 10.21 million unprivileged women had received skills training, and 11.2 million children had benefited from nutritional improvement projects for unprivileged areas. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> All the 200,000 dropouts from the compulsory education coming from poor families have returned to school. More than 8 million middle and high school graduates from poor families have received vocational training and 5.4 million poor students have received higher education. Moreover, a social welfare system for the poor population of advanced age, incapable seniors and the disabled person had been fully established, benefiting 36.89 million seniors and over 24 million disabled people. The number of e-businesses in all 832 poor counties grew from 1.32 million in 2016 to 3.11 million in 2020. E-commerce has helped 500,000 poor people increase their income, and their per capita income derived from this sector rose from 430 Yuan in 2015 to 930 Yuan in 2020. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Those lifted out of poverty are free from worries over food and clothing and have access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing, as well as clean drinking water. Furthermore, by the end of 2020, China has built more than 300,000 industrial bases, created 12000 local agro products brands, 14,400 leading enterprises above the city level, and 719,000 rural cooperatives operated by farmers with a team of 289,800 technicians and a fund of over RMB 20 billion China has set up 1290 innovative platforms and business start-ups. And over 9.6 million people from inhospitable areas have shaken off poverty through relocation. The government channelled 1.6 trillion Yuan ($251 billion) into this endeavour. What is worth mentioning here that China's corporate sector also invested over 1 trillion Yuan ($157 billion) in poverty-stricken areas. The above figures are a vivid manifestation in explaining the Chinese government's "people-centered" governance. Despite the achievement in poverty alleviation, China remains the biggest developing country globally. It still faces acute problems caused by unbalanced and inadequate development. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Globally, there has been marked progress on reducing poverty over the past decades but the Chinese experience remains unparalleled. Over the past eight years, the final 98.99 million unprivileged rural residents living under the current poverty line have all been lifted out of poverty and in this period, China has invested 1.6 trillion Yuan ($ 246 billion) for combating poverty. All the 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 impoverished villages have been removed from the poverty list. According to the World Bank's report, more than 700 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty over the past 40 years, contributing to over 70% of global poverty reduction. China considers extreme rural poor are those with annual per capita income of less than $620, or about $ 1.69 a day at current exchange rates, which compared closely with the World Bank's minimum standard of $ 1.90 a day. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> President Xi Jinping has guided China’s battle against poverty. His important discourses on poverty reduction have laid the ideological and theoretical foundations for Chinese poverty alleviation. It comprises the CPC’s goals and the spirit of the Chinese nation, and reflects patriotism, socialist ideas and Chinese values. In the past nine years, President Xi Jinping has presided over the Central Poverty Alleviation Work Symposium seven times and conducted more than 50 studies on poverty alleviation. He travelled through 14 contiguous poor areas and talked face-to-face with impoverished rural residents about their family lives and incomes. Despite China's remarkable success in the anti-poverty battle, President Xi Jinping also stressed that shaking off poverty is not the finish line, but the starting point of a new life and new endeavour. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Poverty alleviation is a great cause for the prosperity and happiness of the people. Poverty relief work has been led by the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC with its 93 million members. Party chiefs at all levels were required to assume the primary responsibility for achieving the campaigns of these ambitious targets. More than, 3 million well-educated civil servants and bureaucrats were sent from cities and towns to villages to fight against poverty on the front lines. They exchanged hard work sacrifice for the happiness of the people. Over 1800 party members and, officials have lost their lives in the case of poverty alleviation. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> It is believed that China's long practice of poverty eradication and, the experience accumulated can be a classic example for developing countries especially for the South Asian countries. Though the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic added a new dimension to the poverty challenges globally, China's 40-year experience with poverty reduction remains relevant for developing countries including Bangladesh. China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all have great development potential. They have much to offer each other and contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Their foreign ministers agreed at a virtual meeting to create a China-South Asia Poverty Reduction and Development Centre to share best practices. China strongly considers South Asian countries not only its good neighbours but also its trusted friends for years and reiterated its commitment to provide all necessary cooperation for the economic and social development of these countries. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The Writer is Assistant Editor of the Belt and Road Magazine, Bangladesh. </p> </div> <!-- Poverty Alleviation China Corrected start--> <!-- CPC Nafees Article start--> <div> <br> <br> <h3 align="center">Happy Birthday, Communist Party of China<br><br><span style="font-weight:normal;">- Commemorating CPC's Birth Centenary</span></h3> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br> <br> July 1 2021, The Communist Party of China (CPC), the political ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC), is celebrating its 100th birthday since it was founded in Shanghai in 1921. The CPC has grown from a small Party of some 57 members represented by 13 deputies back in 1921. Currently, the CPC has grown into the world’s largest political party, with more than 90 million members and 4.6 million primary-level party organizations. With long-term armed struggles and the close coordination of various aspects and forms of struggles, the CPC finally achieved a victory in 1949 which under the leadership of the working class and based on the workers-peasants’ alliance, upholds the people’s democratic rule. The victory and success of the CPC and people were due to strong leadership and struggling in difficult conditions. It was from these difficult experiences that China succeeded. In 1945 Mao Zedong became the Chairman of the Chinese Communist. Chairman Mao Zedong was a Communist revolutionary who became the forefather of communist China in 1949. His thoughts influenced the formation of the new People's Republic of China as a state system and social life and still influence the Chinese political life prominently. On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, marking the beginning of a new historical era in China, a period of an absolute rule of the CPC. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The emergence of the CPC was a major event, which profoundly changed the course of Chinese history in modern times, the fate and future of the Chinese people and nation, and the direction and pattern of world development. Over the past 100 years, under the pragmatic leadership of the CPC, China has become the world's biggest market and second-largest economy and the first developing country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on poverty alleviation. The CPC has managed to preserve the unity and harmony of 1.4 billion multi-ethnic people. The Chinese people ardently support the CPC leadership. According to a survey conducted by the American Harvard Kennedy School that spanned over 10 years, Chinese citizens’ satisfaction with and support for the CPC and the Chinese government is as high as 93 percent. Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has taken the happiness of the people and rejuvenation of the nation as its aspiration and led the people to fight for a better life over the decades. Now Chinese people enjoy more freedom of expression and access to information. The legal system inside China has improved, and people feel safer and more secure in China. Many people in the West think that there’s no democracy in China as the country is under the rule of one party, the Communist Party of China (CPC).But the fact is that China’s Socialist democracy has been developed based on its national context after numerous trails, just like the country’s political system. China’s socialist democracy, with the feature of party’s leadership, ensures the consistency of policymaking as well as the sustainability of development goals. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Beginning in 1978, the CPC followed the needs of national development and the will of the people to carry out reform and opening-up policies. Deng Xiaoping emerges as a paramount leader of the PRC, widely recognized as the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up policies, which have lasted more than four decades. As a result, the Chinese economy transformed from a centralized economy to a market-driven economy. China had embarked on the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics that had been established in the Deng era. The basic line, principles, and policies formulated in this period are still employed by the CPC. China should be thankful to Deng Xiaoping for his remarkable role in introducing China to the world. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> This year China is preparing for celebrating the centenary of the founding of the CPC and formulates and implements the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). China is expected to declare a moderately prosperous society in all respect in the middle of this year, which means that the country has achieved its first centenary goal on schedule in 2021.In 2049, China will achieve its second centenary goal of building “a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious”. Under the CPC leadership, China has established a socialist market economic system and made outstanding achievements, this signifies a great deepening and exploration of Marxism. In over four decades following the reform and opening-up, China eradicated absolute poverty by lifting more than 850 million people out of poverty. This contributed to 70 percent of poverty relief around the world. In 2020, Chinese GDP exceeded 100 trillion Yuan (15.42 trillion US dollars) and its per capita income rose above 10000 US dollars. China’s total imports and exports soared from 20.6 billion US dollars to more than 4.5 trillion US dollars, making the country the world's top trading nation. China has also proposed several approaches for global governance and development, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank, Forum on China-Africa cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).China is a huge country and the CPC is the backbone of China. It provides the country with a vision and transits this vision into reality. Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese President and also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), when came to the office nine years ago, he made a big promise. Xi said, “We’ll continue to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This grave responsibility is for the well-being of the people”. Xi soon used the “Chinese Dream” to inspire people and provide hope. The ‘Chinese Dream’ now has comprehensive theories and content. And Xi’s thoughts are the basis for China’s overall development in the long term. It is undeniable that China has made gigantic progress in many areas under Xi’s magnificent leadership. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> In fighting COVID-19, the CPC values the people's lives and health as paramount. The key to China's success in bringing the pandemic under control is that the CPC and the Chinese government have organized efforts properly and that the Chinese people have a strong sense of discipline. More than 4.6 million of its primary-level organizations served as strongholds against the pandemic. Nearly 39 million CPC members fought against the COVID-19 at the front line. More than 400 CPC members have defended other's lives and safety at the cost of their own. China is a firm believer in making COVID-19 vaccines as a global public product. During the fight against the pandemic, the Socialist system with Chinese characteristics has shown great advantages, and the CPC, as well as the Chinese people have shown a strong sense of mission and pro-activity. China has provided more than 350 million doses of vaccines to the international community, including vaccine aid to more than 80 countries, exporting vaccines to 43 countries and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine research, development and production to date. China has sent medical supplies to more than 150 countries and international organizations, providing more than 280 billion masks, 3.4 billion protective suits and 4 billion testing kits to the world. China also provided 2 billion US dollars in assistance for the COVID-19 response for the developing countries. In the last Global Health Summit held on 21 May, 2021, President Xi Jinping announced to provide additional 3 billion dollars in international aid over the next three years to the developing countries for social and economic recovery and in combating the pandemic. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Last year, when COVID-19 propelled China and Bangladesh have stood in strong solidarity in the fight against COVID-19, in coordination with the international community as a whole. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic and visionary leadership in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination program is very successful. Bangladesh has already received 1100000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines as gifts from China. The Bangladesh government has also taken an initiative for co-production with the Chinese companies in Bangladesh. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China's achievements in development are attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC, and China's success represents the success of the CPC. China has been actively taking part in international affairs and committed to safeguarding multilateralism. Culturally, China does not have the gene of the hegemony of their blood. Historically, China used to be the most powerful country in the world, but never invaded or plundered other countries. Since the founding of the PRC, China has followed an independent foreign policy of peace, and promoted the establishment of a solid and reasonable international order. China’s more proactive action in setting the agenda for global growth and governance is exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).The initiative proposed by the Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to promote trade and financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity, IT connectivity, health security and bolstering people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa. By linking countries and regions that account for more than 60 percent of the world population and 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, the BRI is a public road open for all. All interested countries can join to take part in the cooperation and share its benefits. As of the end of January, 2021, a total of 171 countries and international organizations had signed 205 cooperation agreements with China on the joint building of the BRI. Bangladesh is also a proud member of this comprehensive initiative. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Over the decades, China has made miraculous achievements in various fields especially environmental protection, infrastructure development, education, health care, sound macroeconomic management, good governance and the strong delivery of public services, social inclusiveness, aerospace, international humanitarian relief, military power, e-commerce, agricultural demonstration, UN peace-keeping mission, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G high -speed mobile networks, which would not be possible without the splendid leadership of the CPC. At the beginning of the 21st century, China had no high-speed railways. Today, it’s a completely different picture. China has the world’s largest network of high-speed railways. No fewer than 37000 kilometers (about 23500 miles) of lines crisscross the country, linking its major mega-city clusters. The network is expected to double in length again, to 70000 kilometers, by 2035. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> According to the 14th five plans (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and Long- Range Objectives through the year 2035, an essential part of China's modernization will be the harmony between Man and Nature. To mitigate the impact of climate change, China has announced that it would strive to peak Carbon Dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve Carbon neutrality by 2060. China's space agency has an extraordinary gift for the ruling Communist Party's 100th birthday: a rover on Mars. The historic landing on May 15, 2021 of Zhurong, a rover named after the god of fire in ancient Chinese folklore, was a crowning moment for China. It not only demonstrated the country's growing capabilities in space but also served as a timely reminder of how far the country has come since its founding. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Recently, Chinese lawmakers voted for an anti-food waste law. The law, designed to help establish a long-term mechanism to preventing food waste is vital to ensure national food security. Approximately, 18 billion kg of food is wasted every year in China's urban catering industry, and over 35 billion kg of grain loss is estimated at the pre-consumption stages. The law will also help promote social awareness and in promoting a healthy, rational, green lifestyle and better consumption behavior of the citizens. Such sort of drive will help Chinese individuals in food security and will be edifying for the entire world. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> A series of events will be held to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the CPC, reawakening collective memories and patriotic sentiment among the people. The activities include an ongoing party-wide campaign on CPC history learning and education. Major publications including a book on the CPC's 100-year history will be compiled and released. Commemorative stamps and coins will be issued. It will also focus on grass-roots party activities and promote "Red Tourism". Movie theaters in China are going to screen patriotic films with titles like "The Sacrifice “and "The Red Sun”. Elementary students in some cities are advised to create paintings and calligraphy extolling the "Chinese Dream”. Buses and subways are broadcasting nationalistic messages about revolutionary heroes. Television networks are releasing documentaries and dramas related to the anniversary such as "Mining Town”, a popular series that depicts the Party's poverty alleviation works in Ningxia, a region in Northwest China. Moreover, a grand gathering will be held, during which President Xi Jinping will deliver an important speech. He will also present “July1 Medal and Certificate” to party members for the first time who have made tremendous contributions. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will also hold a series of activities to mark the anniversary, will include theoretical seminars and themed forums, as well as a massive exhibition at the Military Museum on the Chinese People’s Revolution. The Military will also produce and release several movies to mark the centenary. Moreover, Central Military Commission (CMC) will confer awards to distinguished officers and soldiers who are Party members and to outstanding party organizations inside the armed forces. However, there is no arrangement for a military parade. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> More than 2000 years ago, Confucius said,"yan bi xin, xing bi guo", which means "One must be true to their word and determined in their work”. The CPC has remained true to the phrase throughout its development process and commitment. Chinese President Xi Jinping said,"The Chinese civilization emphasizes that 'word must be kept, promise must be delivered' and 'with dishonest people, reliability becomes questionable'. Today, faced with unprecedented uncertainties and changes worldwide, the CPC remains committed to fulfilling its mission of serving the people, leading them toward the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and working with other peoples in the rest of the world toward the greater progress of humankind. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0; text-align: right;"> - Nafees Sakhawat is Research Associate at the Centre for East Asia Foundation and Editorial Assistant at “The Belt and Road Quarterly”, Bangladesh. </p> <!-- <div class="man1" style="height:auto;">Nafees Sakhawat</div><br> <p class="bangla">Research Associate</p><br /> <p class="bangla">Centre for East Asia (Foundation)</p><br /> <div style="border-top:1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-right:15px; margin-bottom:50px; clear:both;"> </div> --> <div class="clr"></div> </div> <!-- CPC Nafees Article end--> <!-- china aritacl nafees start --> <div> <!-- <div class="man1" style="height:auto;"> China-Bangladesh 45 Years of Diplomatic Relations - Deference and Optimism </div> --> <br> <br> <h3 align="center">China-Bangladesh 45 Years of Diplomatic Relations<br><br><span style="font-weight:normal;">- Deference and Optimism</span></h3> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br /><br /> Although the age of formal diplomatic relations has barely touched 45 years, in reality China and Bangladesh are bound by many centuries of friendship. The traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh by land across the Himalayas and along the silk routes date back to over 2000 years. Trade relations across the oceans developed in the 15th century, when a Squadron of the Chinese fleet of Zheng He, commanded by Hong Bao visited Sonargoan (near Dhaka),the then capital of Bengal Sultanate. In Chinese descriptions, the honesty and efficiency of the people of Bengal are repeatedly recognized. After formal diplomatic relations between the two countries which turned a brand-new page in the history of China-Bangladesh good relations. Over the past 45 years, China-Bangladesh relationship has been developing in a healthy and smooth manner. In the International community, Bangladesh for its part has to have the best of its capacity maintained in unwavering support to "One China Policy" and China's peaceful rise. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, was associated with China during the rising of his colorful political life. He traveled to China in 1952 for an international conference. During the trip, he met Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the heroes of the Chinese Revolution. New China greatly influenced his mind. This was made clear in a recently read book by Bangabandhu titled 'Amar Dekha Naya Chin'. He also visited China for the second time in 1956. After the independence of Bangladesh, the work of establishing diplomatic relations with China under the leadership of Bangabandhu began after overcoming many adversities. Although Bangabandhu was not alive when the formal diplomatic relations were initiated due to procedural reasons, it is true that it was in his hands that the work of establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China began. China appreciates its connection with Bangabandhu. Last year, present Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming and all diplomats from the Chinese Embassy visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. At that time they paid homage to Bangabandhu. The curator of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum said that the Chinese embassy was the first foreign mission of Bangladesh, whose diplomats had visited the historic building together. Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming has said, “China will show highest respect to the greatest Bengali of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his birth Centenary this year that coincides the celebration of the 45th anniversary of Dhaka-Beijing diplomatic ties. The whole Bangladesh is celebrating the year "Mujib Barsha", and the Chinese embassy will also implement initiatives to celebrate this significant event with our Bangladeshi friends to show Chinese People's highest consideration and respect towards this great man.” </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> As his worthy daughter in the continuity of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proved her worth as a visionary leader by leading the unprecedented development of Bangladesh by overcoming various obstacles in recent years. Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, Bangladesh is ready to move forward side by side with China as a reliable ally and partner in the days to come. Already, relations between the two countries have reached a unique height. In recent years, China has established itself as a major development partner of Bangladesh. The common people of Bangladesh have embraced it with warmth. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Proposed in 2013 by the Chinese President Xi Jinping 'The Belt and Road Initiative' has become the most popular public goods and platform for international cooperation with the brightest prospects in the world amid protectionism and unilateralism. Bangladesh is a proud member of this magnificent initiative and it can play a significant role for the advancement of this epic project. On October 14, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bangladesh on a historic visit. During that visit, China announced huge investments in various sectors of Bangladesh. The implementation of those investment projects is now in full swing. Among the ongoing projects are the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Karnafuli Tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong Highway Four Lane Upgradation, Payra Port Development, Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Railway Project, Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Dhaka-Sylhet 4 Lane Highway etc. Mutual cooperation is not limited to the government level, but also at the private level. More practically,China-Bangladesh people- to- people and cultural exchanges underwent significant development in 2019 as over 37000 Bangladesh tourists traveled to China and more than 5000 Bangladeshi students are studying in China. It is undeniable that the unprecedented development of Bangladesh's agriculture and garments sector is due to the support of Chinese technology. China is truly a true friend of Bangladesh. A total of 8256 Bangladeshi products are coming under the 97 percent of products that would be exempted from tariff. Bangladesh describes it as success of its economic diplomacy. This treatment is in addition to the Preferential duties that we are already enjoying from China under Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China has established itself as Bangladesh's most trusted ally in the defense sector. With the help of China, Bangladesh is about to become a world-class military power. However, we are hopeful that the field of ongoing cooperation in the defense sector will continue to expand. China's valuable involvement in water resources development and management has created enormous potential for Bangladesh. Recently, there have been reports of China's cooperation in the overall development of the Teesta Basin, which, if implemented, could radically change the socio-economic sectors, including agriculture and industry, in a large area of North Bengal. We hope that similar development projects will be undertaken in cooperation with China on more different rivers like Teesta, such as old Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Gorai, Mahananda, Dharla, Dudhkumar etc. China's participation in the proposed Ganga Barrage is also highly desirable. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Apart from infrastructural development, China is doing commendable work in cultural exchange with Bangladesh. The Confucius Institute, originated from China, has been set up in various institutions of higher learning in the country. To facilitate Chinese language education for Bangladeshis, Chinese language courses have been introduced in various educational institutions including Dhaka University and North South University. Every year a large number of Bangladeshi students are going to study in different universities of China under the scholarship. Cultural groups are coming every year as part of cultural exchange from China. However, these activities should be allowed to spread outside Dhaka city. Organizing carnivals, fairs and exhibitions at the district level can be fruitful in this regard. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> China has also established itself as Bangladesh's only all-weather friend by extending a hand of sympathy and support to Bangladesh at a time like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the world. But China itself became the first and one of the biggest victims of Covid-19. China's well regulated resistance to the pandemic is an important part of education for the world. China had earlier announced that if the Covid-19 Vaccine was discovered, Bangladesh would be given the first priority in obtaining it. China has kept its word. In Bangladesh, a Chinese company has been allowed to run the third phase trail of the Sinovac Coronavirus Vaccine. Under the pragmatic initiative by the Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has sent medical accessories including masks, gowns, caps and gloves to China. The Prime Minister also wrote a letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping. In return, Chinese government has sent 10 members of a medical expert team to support Bangladesh's fight against Covid-19 pandemic. The medical experts have provided consultations of pandemic control, patients treatment and laboratory tests, and guide and train Bangladeshi medical professionals. China has also provided Bangladesh with over 3 million surgical and N-95 masks, over 110000 sets of personal protective equipment and large number of test kits, thermometers, ventilators, and sanitizers. Moreover, Beijing backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in a statement said it would lend $100 million to Bangladesh to help the country deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. </p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"> Chinese President has outlined the vision of the Chinese dream which is to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation. The steady process of attaining the Chinese dream will not only benefit China, but also the world at large. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, the Chinese dream of national renewal is about the pursuit of happiness by every Chinese citizen, and it has much in common with the dream of the people of Bangladesh, as we are on the way to achieve the goal of becoming a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.We are hopeful that Bangladesh and China with joint efforts will be able to develop and maintain practices and policies that will make these dreams come true not only for their own people, but also for the Bay of Bengal littorals to attain commensurate levels of happiness and peaceful growth. </p> <div class="man1" style="height:auto;">Nafees Sakhawat</div><br> <p class="bangla">Research Associate</p><br /> <p class="bangla">Centre for East Asia (Foundation)</p><br /> <div style="border-top:1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-right:15px; margin-bottom:50px; clear:both;"> </div> <div class="clr"></div> </div> <!-- china aritacl nafees end --> <!-- Brics Artical start --> <!-- Brics Artical end --> <!-- added by tanvir end--> <div class="man1" style="height:auto;">Brief prepared by CEAF research team for paper-writers of the seminar on BCIM-Economic Corridor and Maritime Silk Road across the Bay</div> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0;"><br /><br />1. The Maritime Silk Road, according to some analysts, is the Chinese answer to US ‘Pivot to Asia’. It is a strategy of soft power projection, as Chinese economy steadily grows to overtake the United States, vis-a-vis the military “rebalancing” strategy of the U.S.A. The naval power projection of US Asia Pacific Command is sought to be made irrelevant by a commonwealth of interests in safety and security of international trade along the Maritime Silk Road, China being in the driving seat of trade growth along that route (vide blue lines in Map 1, Italy to Japan.) Umbrella of US Naval power, however, has eager clients and partners in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean span, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council led by Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan. Indonesia and Bangladesh are also being paid increasing naval attention by US power. For the time being, Chinese dictum of “peaceful rise” and US avowal of “competition and cooperation” with China appears to offer the guarantee for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.<br /><br />2. Revival of the ancient Great Silk Road remodeled “from China and Afghanistan to Palestine and Balkans” was also an American idea in the aftermath of its emergence as the sole superpower at the end of the Cold War. A US Silk Road strategy paper at the threshold of the current millennium read as follows: “After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the consequent emergence of the five independent Central Asian republics of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, major efforts have been undertaken to revive the Silk Road for cultural exchange, trade and tourism. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Askar Akaev, expressed the hope that it will be ‘possible to create conditions for the transformation of the entire region into an area of stability, security, friendship, co-operation and equitable partnership’.<br />“Apart from being a major trading route the Great Silk Road was of immeasurable significance in the establishment and maintenance of diplomatic relations. Today there is a revival of the Silk Road Diplomacy as technological advances in information communication systems and networks speed up the process of globalisation and increasing interdependence. The dynamic development of political, trade and economic relations needs strengthening if mutually advantageous partnerships are to develop between all States on the Silk Road.<br /><br />“The modern day arms race, local conflicts, terrorism, narcotic criminal activity, natural disasters and urgent unmet social needs are major problems leading to increased awareness of the need to resolve chronic problems by peaceful negotiation. The advantages offered by regional integration and co-operation are clear and as information infrastructures enable the region to access the world-wide computer networks, the power of information technology can be harnessed in support of the drive for economic stability and the development of business and civil society. The United States is actively promoting Silk Road development in recognition of the strategic importance of the countries encompassed within the Silk Road and in 1999 the U.S. Senate adopted a Silk Road Strategy Act. U.S. Senator Sam Brownbeck who introduced the Bill to the Senate, saying: ‘The Silk Road countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia are at an historic crossroad: they are independent, they are at the juncture of many of today's major world forces, they are rich in natural resources, and they are in the midst of nation building.’<br />“The countries of the Silk Road Strategy included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, China, DPR Korea, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan as well as Afghanistan, northern India and the Balkans.”<br /><br />3. But the US New Silk Road strategy has been largely frustrated by the indeterminate results of its Af-Pak policy at one end, and Russian confrontation against attempted US-NATO extension of influence in Caucasus and in Ukraine. The relevant independent Central Asian states have meanwhile been effectively incorporated into the Sanghai Cooperation Organisation, in which countries of observer status include Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Mongolia. China undertook its own network of Silk Road revival and energy connectivity covering the entire Eurasian theatre. Gas and Oil pipeline network, projects and contracts of Russia and China with oil-rich Central Asian states, such as Gazprom controlled Central Asia – Center (CAC) 1, 2, 4 and 5 pipelines, and the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, virtually elbowed to sidelines the Western oil companies’ Caspian Pipeline Consortium, and other initiatives. Competition over control of major pipelines notwithstanding, much of the oil and gas flowing through them reach the global market and Western refineries, through Russia and also avoiding Russia through-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.<br /><br />4. Like the oil and gas pipelines, the revived Silk Road network on land serves the causes of globalisation, although US Silk Road Strategy Act, 1999 has become inconsequential. The Maritime Silk Road is also the revival of ancient Han Dynasty sea-faring routes, which expanded and boomed as nomadic turmoil increasingly erupted in Central Asia in the eighth century, flourishing upto the end of the 14th century. Undermined by later Ming and Qing dynasties, the Silk Road on the Sea was finished off totally by the nineteenth century Opium Wars by waged British colonialists.<br />Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the matter of reshaping that old oceanic connectivity into a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road during his South East Asian Tour in 2013. Interestingly, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative with implicit Chinese guarantee of its collective protection provides the lifeline of communication for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership initiative by Japan, seeking to take India and Bangladesh on a Journey to Free Trade Areas of the Asia-Pacific. (vide Figures 1 and 2)<br /><br />5. The Japanese drive behind the concept, according to a presentation by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) of “RCEP”, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership had begun with sixteen nations in Asia consisting of 10 ASEAN members, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand and India. They are discussing economic integration under this MEGA economic treaty. RECP was announced on November 2012 by ASEAN, and the 16th countries had several meetings, aiming to conclude the negotiation by 2015. We try to make rules and regulations that is friendly to international supply chain by synchronizing procedures. RCEP nations consist of 30% of the world GDP, 50% of world population, who under the scheme would be able to do activities like import, export, move, invest and expand freely, for any business located in RCEP nations.<br /><br />6. Bangladesh and Myanmar are being sought to be brought under the RCEP umbrella by the Japanese investment scheme in BIG-B, or Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt. The BIG-B plan in respect of Bangladesh has been offered in a paper prepared by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) as follows.<br />BIG-B has three main pillars. The first pillar is industry and trade. This pillar mainly consists of constructing a long-awaited deep sea port at the Matarbari Island. This will offer Bangladesh an important trade gateway to the rest of Asia and beyond.<br />The second pillar is energy. Matarbari Island can be developed into a massive supply base of primary energy (such as coal, LNG, and oil). The electricity produced from those sources can support a quantum leap in industry and trade, not only within the area covered by BIG-B but also all over Bangladesh. Recognizing the promise this holds, Power Division and the Bangladesh Power Development Board have already embarked on developing electricity infrastructure throughout the entire area to facilitate greater diversification of the country's energy mix.<br />Transportation is the third pillar of BIG-B. To enable greater industry, trade, and energy production, the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar transport artery needs to be strengthened and even extended to neighboring countries. More and better national highways and railways are an absolute must to accelerate the movement of goods and people that is essential for highly vibrant industrial agglomeration. The fact that the Roads Division of the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of Railways have shown a strong commitment to address this urgent need.<br />BIG-B is also an appropriate strategy for Bangladesh in the sense that the country is now poised to capitalize on three promising economic opportunities. The first opportunity is the cost-competitiveness of Bangladeshi labor in the global marketplace, which is still strong. The second opportunity is the current trend of regional integration. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which is currently being negotiated among ten ASEAN countries, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India, is one manifestation of this trend. Bangladesh could benefit more by joining in it.<br />The third opportunity is provided by the strategic location of Bangladesh, a country between the Indian Ocean and the Asian continent and a country between Southeast Asia and South Asia. Bangladesh can provide the gateway to the Bay of Bengal for the South Asian hinterlands comprising Bhutan, Nepal and India's seven North-Eastern states. These land-locked places are now considered to be a huge untapped market with more than 70 million people. This means that Bangladesh can be a "hub" of the Bengal regional economy.<br /><br />7. The BCIM-EC concept is also a revival of a Southern trade and travel route of merchandise as well as men of learning, historically remembered more as a route of cultural transmission. Chinese merchants scaled through difficult mountain passes to open up the route for commerce with Juandu (India). Although it branched off to Vietnam in the East and in the West up to Middle East through Myanmar and India, the cultural proactive core part of the road, Southwest Silk Road from Chinese angle, traversed from Chengdu to Dali in China to reach Magadha (near Patna) in Bengal-Bihar belt of the Pala period going further to Lhasa in Tibet across the Himalayas to return to Chengdu. (vide mauve line enclosure in Map 1). At present, under Indian compulsions of security of the corridor for this revived Southwest Silk Road, taking into account separatist troubles in the Indian northeast, the BCIM-EC has been agreed on to be primarily a K to K (Kunming to Kolkata) connection, avoiding sensitive pockets of insurgent activity in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Tripura in the Indian territory (vide Figure 3).<br /><br />8. Bangladeshi experts observe that strategic roads survive if trade and traffic favours such route-plans. 20th Century Stilwell Road built by British Army during World War 2 connecting Indian northeast through Myanmar to China has not survived. But the 16th century Grand Trunk Road built by Sher Shah connecting Kabul to Sonargaon of the-then Bengal Sultanate (extended to Kolkata by the British) has stood the test of time. Bangladesh expects trade and traffic to grow along a direct route from Chittagong through Myanmar (right now somewhat disaffected by ethnic discord between Rohingyas and Rakhaines, but certainly less complicated than those in Indian northeast) to Kunming and other parts of Western China. A dept-sea port off Chittagong could provide a vital link to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to this land route of BCIM-EC, in turn branching off to Tripura, Assam and Manipur in Indian northeast, to Nepal and Bhutan, and to Shiliguri, Patna (Magadha) and Kolkata in the Indian mainland.<br /><br />9. The people of Myanmar, which obtained the Chair of the ASEAN community in 2014 and forms the westernmost flank of that community had been rendered temperamentally recluse through the 20th century by colonial domination followed by long civil wars in post World War postcolonial trauma. It has emerged in the 21st century as a very important link by land and sea within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as conceived by Japan and also within the Silk Road Economic Belt and its nautical complement Marine Silk Road as conceived by China. It has nine sea-ports along the Bay already operational and equal to the number of Indian seaports along the Bay excepting India’s naval base in the Andamans. Thailand has four sea-ports operational along the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladesh has two. (vide Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7). Myanmar is thus undoubtedly the most ready candidate to link up BCIM-EC with Marine Silk Road across the Bay. Bangladesh has to do more and decide quickly on deep-sea ports to catch up with Myanmar in the service of the BCIM-EC community and neighbourly eastern sub-Himalayan states of Nepal and Bhutan. <br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="496" alt="" src="images/1-1.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="496" alt="" src="images/2-2.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="343" alt="" src="images/3-3.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="544" alt="" src="images/4-4.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="496" alt="" src="images/5-5.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="724" alt="" src="images/6-6.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="429" alt="" src="images/7-7.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> <img width="578" height="496" alt="" src="images/8-8.jpg"><br /><br /><br /> </p> <div style="border-top:1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-right:15px; margin-bottom:50px; clear:both;"> </div> <div class="clr"></div> <div class="man1">Bangladesh must not forget to look East</div> <p class="bangla">Bangladesh-Myanmar 40 years of Diplomatic Relations.</p><br /> <p class="name1">Bangladesh and Myanmar, two neighboring Least Developed Countries of Asia. On 13 January, 1972, Myanmar was the sixth state to accord recognition to new born Bangladesh that emerged as a sovereign independent state. Geography apart, Bangladesh has historic ties with Myanmar including a common colonial legacy. Geographically present Myanmar, is the only direct neighbor that we have across our land borders other than India. Geo-strategically, Myanmar provides for Bangladesh a possible gateway</p> <p class="name1"> to China as well as to South-East Asia. This year the two neighbor celebrate 40 years of their diplomatic relations. And although during these years some tensions developed sporadically between the two neighbors in particular about land border traffic and trade management, refugees and maritime boundary demarcation, relationship between the two countries remained on sound footing and differences addressed by sustained and peaceful negotiations.<br /><br />As early as in May 1972, the-then Bangladesh Foreign Minister visited Myanmar. That was the first official visit by the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh to any country after India. Following the visit, a joint communiqué was issued simultaneously from Bangladesh and Myanmar. The communiqué declared intent to maintain close ties and develop bilateral relations on the basis of peaceful co-existence, non-alignment and mutual respect for sovereignty, territorian integrity and national dignity. These still remain the basis of Bangladesh-Myanmar ties. Between 1972 and 1985, the two countries signed three important agreements. These were : (i) General Trade Agreement (3 August, 1973), (ii) Repatriation of Refugee Agreement (1978) and (iii) Land Boundary Agreement (1979). These agreements were milestones for the relations between the two countries. Since then many top level visits took place from both sides to boost up Bangladesh-Myanmar ties. The visit to the-then Prime Minister General Than Shaw to Bangladesh in December 2002 and subsequent visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to Myanmar in March 2003, were important developments in Bangladesh-Myanmar relations. The summit between the two leaders produced a number of good decisions. In March 2003, three agreements, namely Coastal Shipping, Trade Account, and Joint Business Council agreements, were concluded. In all, there were 10 agreements between the two countries, but many of them had remained only as paper exercise. The broder agreement is an exception. In the same year, the second Bangladesh trade fair took place in Myanmar. A cultural troupe from Bangladesh consisting of 116 members performed their cultural show for four days. Five years later Myanmar Vice Senior General Maung Aye visited Bangladesh in October 2008 and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni visited Myanmar in May 2009. They held discussions on the core issues of bilateral relations.<br /><br />The amount of bilateral trade is small. Myanmar exports to Bangladesh such items as marine products, beans and pulses, and kitchen crops, while it imports from Bangladesh pharmaceuticals, ceramic, cotton fabric, raw jute, kitchenware and cosmetics. It is reported that in 2010-11 Bangladesh’s export stood at $ 9.65 million and imports from Myanmar at $ 175.7 million. To increase trade, the joint trade commission (JTC) of Bangladesh and Myanmar held its 5th meeting in July 2011. It was agreed that the two countries would raise bilateral trade to $550 million from $185.3 million now. They also discussed how to complete border transactions through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) payment system. Bangladeshi importers now settle their payments for bulk shipments through third counrty bank drafts issued by foreign banks.<br /><br />Myanmar is close door neighbor to Bangladesh but it is too distant to travel by air because one has to fly first to third country and then to Myanmar from Bangladesh and vice versa. There are no air links, no road links and no coastal shipping connections between the two neighbors. This is unexpectable is the age of globalization where countries across the world have been efficiently interconnected.<br /><br />Bangladesh Prime Minister visited Myanmar on December 2011 for strengthened the bilateral relations and mutual trade between the two countries. After the official bilateral meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Myanmar president U Thein Sein in Myanmarese new capital Nay Pyi Taw they stated the 15 point joint statement. The Bangladesh Prime Minister expressed Bangladesh’s willingness to import energy from Myanmar and requested the President to import Readymade Garments (RMG), Pharmaceutical products, Knitwear, Jute goods, Ceramic etc from Bangladesh at competitive price. Both the heads of state stressed upon the establishment of direct Banking arrangement Under Assian Clearing Union (ACU) and wished to launch direct air flight between Dhaka/Chittagong and Yangon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also laid the foundation of Bangladesh chancery in the Diplomatic Zone of Nay Pyi Daw, new capital city of Myanmar. Bangladesh is the first country to lay the foundation of its chancery building in the diplomatic zone on about 7 acres of land.<br /><br />It is desirable for Bangladesh to discard old mindsets and establish long term strategic relationships with the newer global power centers that are emerging in other parts of the world. Therefore, taking into account the changed strategic environment in the region, an overhaul of Bangladesh’s ‘Look East’ Policy is urgently needed. The ‘Look East’ policy of Bangladesh promises to bring not only commercial benefits to the country but can also improve its political and defense standing among the nations.<br /><br />India, the close neighbor of Bangladesh by this time made significant advancement in achieving excellent relations with East Asian Countries in various sectors with a geometric progression. After liberalization of Indian economy from 1992 onwards, India started looking at the lucrative markets of ASEAN region as part of the ‘Look East Policy’. India has embarked on a policy of building closer relations with Myanmar to counter Chinese influence and facilitate the growth of trade and commerce with ASEAN. Following the admission of Myanmar as a member of the ASEAN in 1996 its importance in furthering India’s trade with ASEAN increased. Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna visited Myanmar last year. Krishna’s agenda were security, connectivity and investment. It was the first high level contact between the two countries since a new government took charge last year in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar’s Capital. India pledged $10 million towards capacity building on the agricultural sector in Myanmar. This sector is the back bone of Myanmar’s economy. Providing employment of 2/3rd of Myanmar’s people and contributing to 58% of its GDP and 48% of export earnings. India also setting up an agricultural research center at Yezin. In the health sector, India has agreed to provide sophisticated medical equipment to a children’s hospital in Yangon. The two state also concentrate on counter insurgency co-operation. India’s current Myanmar policy appears to be largely copying the methods adopted by the Chinese.<br /><br />To improve connectivity with Myanmar, India has taken up a number of road and port construction projects. India has constructed the 160-km Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road in Myanmar from Manipur border. It is also assisting in the proposed trilateral highway project to connect Moreh in Maniput to Mae Sot in Thailand via Bagan in Myanmar. India’s Kaladan multi-model transit transport facility is aimed at improving linkage between Indian ports on the eastern sea board and Sittwe port in Myanmar. This would enable transportation by river transport and road to Mizoram providing an alternative route for transport of goods to North-East India. A proposal to build a rail link from Jiribaum in Assam to Hanoi in Viet Nam through Myanmar is also on the cards.<br /><br />On the other hand, China-Myanmar relations have a long history. As Myanmar’s biggest foreign investor, China has benefited from the isolation of its resource rich neighbor, buying up vast amounts of oil, gas and timber as it offered unwavering diplomatic support. China has stepped its influence through economic, military and development assistance. Once seen a Pariah state, Myanmar now appears to be trying to limit its dependence on Beijing by reaching out to The United States – as evidenced by us Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip there last month. Trade between the two countries hit $4.4 billion in 2010, up by 53% from the previous year. China has signed a 30 year deal with Myanmar for the right to buy natural gas from its Shwe fields.<br /><br />Nevertheless, China’s economic, political and military involvement in Myanmar is all-encompassing. China’s biggest interest by far are in oil, natural gas and hydroelectricity, as it seeks to fuel its breakneck economic expansion. China has begun construction on twin oil and natural gas pipelines going from the Myanmar port of Kyankpyu on the Bay of Bengal to Kunming, Capital of South-West China’s border province of Yunnan. Around 80% of China’s oil imports from the Middle East and Africa are currently transported through the Strait of Malacca, which Beijing fears could be choked off in the future due to geopolitical disputes. Due to this China’s strategic objective appears to be to gain direct access to Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea through Myanmar bypassing the narrow Strait of Malacca.<br /><br />Myanmar has a great deal of strategic significance for both India and China, whereas for Bangladesh it has a strategic twinning prospect for mutual security and economic cooperation. Indeed, Bangladesh’s foreign policy objectives should place a higher priority on maintaining friendly ties with East Asian Countries. Since both economic and military balance of power is shifting from Atlantic to Asia Pacific. Bangladesh’s interest to maintain pro-active relations with Myanmar is highly necessary for the reasons of national security and strategic advantages such as an alternative land route opening to China and South-East Asia. So, the tri-nation direct road linkstretching Bangladesh, Myanmar and China is another area where cooperation can greatly benefit the whole region. The extension of highway from Cox’s Bazer to Bawlibazer up to Kunming of China via Myanmar would contribute significantly. Furthermore, Bangladesh can take diplomatic initiative for the implementation of the proposed Trans-Asian Railway (TAR), a project of UNESCAP. Once materialized, it will link Bangladesh, among others, with six East Asian Countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Loas, Combodia, Malaysia and Singapore as well as European Countries through Turkey. Consequently Bangladesh-Myanmar economic and commercial ties will greatly expand through this increased connectivity.<br /><br />The balance of power among civilizations is shifting. The west is declining in relative influence. Asian civilizations are expanding their economic, political and military strength. Over the past six months, one of the world’s most striking and surprising political transformation has been underway in the South-East Asian nation of Myanmar. In the changing global and regional politics US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited to Myanmar last month marks a watershed in Myanmar-US relations. The changes in Myanmar have provided an opening to better relations with the United States of America at a time when the Obama administration is courting South-East Asian nations as China asserts its influence in the region. Since inauguration in March 2011, President Thein Sein has worked with the country’s newly established parliament to pass a draft of new laws. Labor Unions have been legalized, reform banking system, the internet has been mostly freed, the easing of restrictions on buying cars, human rights commission established. Moreover, Aung Suu Kyi freed from house arrest and her National League for Democracy (NLD) rejoins political process. She is now planning to take part in by elections expected this year. The government has also freed a member of political prisoners. The most amazing news for Myanmar is they granted ASEAN chair in 2014. Now, it is depicted that, Myanmar is the fertile land of investment and cooperation. Why not Bangladesh take such advantages from her next door neighbor?<br /><br />To qualify as a significant regional player in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh should avail of the following strategic opportunities:-<br /></p> <table width="579" height="595" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tbl_advisory1"> <tr> <td width="38" align="center">(a)</td> <td width="535">To earn the confidence and trust of the Myanmarese government that Bangladesh is sincere about establishing bilateral relationship.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">(b)</td> <td>To maintain favourable balance of power situation with Myanmar.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">(c)</td> <td>To form strategic partnership with Myanmar and to consider it an indispensable part of Bangladesh’s ‘Look East’ policy.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">(d)</td> <td>To resolve any disputes through dialogue and to avoid the possibility of military confrontations.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">(e)</td> <td>To increase defense cooperation between the two state in the field of training, joint military exercise and exchange of sensitive security information.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">(f)</td> <td>To launch an intense diplomatic effort, both bilateral and multilateral involving China.</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="251" align="center">(g)</td> <td>Myanmar is rich in natural resources but industrially still under developed. Bangladesh should encourage both by governmental aid and private investment in the following fields:<br /><br />i) Agro-tech and forestry industries, ii) Small scale industries, iii) IT education and infra-structure, iv) Human Resource Development, v) Hotel industry and tourism, vi) Establishment of training institute specially launch a substantial English language teaching initiative in Myanmar supported by Dhaka University or any reputed Private University from Bangladesh. vii) To developed and modernized the banking facilities in Myanmar, viii) To supply skilled manpower in the field of Education, road, air, shipping, farming, marine fishing, ceramic, tourism, gas and hydropower sector.</td> </tr> </table> <p class="name1">All unresolved issues between Bangladesh and Myanmar are in a process of resolution either bilaterally or under UN arbitration. Bangladesh and Myanmar could continue to improve their ties and they have many complementarities, potentialities, opportunities and areas of co-operation to improve their relations which will give them greater connectivity both at sub-regional and regional levels. On certain strategic issues, both countries have been trying to improve bilateral ties through regional and sub-regional forums such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC), The ARF, The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum (BCIM) Strategically, Bangladesh can improve its balance of power situation with regional heavy weights by establishing relationships based on mutual interdependence and benefits and therefore attain more flexibility in devising policies that will protect her own national interests and will affect the future strategic direction of South and South-East Asia.<br /><br />Myanmar and Bangladesh jointly are the bridge between ASEAN and SAARC. Bangladesh must take full advantage of the geo-strategic location of both countries for reasons of economic development & international relations.<br /><br />The importance of geography in shaping foreign policy has long been recognized. Napoleon is supposed to have said, “Foreign policy of country is determined by its geography”. This is not just a hyperbole. There is no question that geographical factors have had a decisive effect upon civilizations and upon national & international development.</p> <div class="clr"></div> <div class="man1">Nasim Mahmmud</div> <p class="bangla">Executive Director</p><br /><br /> <div class="news4"><!--start news4--> <img src="images/news4.jpg" width="578" alt="" class="co_logo" /> <img src="images/nafiz_img.jpg" alt="image" class="nafiz" /> <h3>“China’s PLA Long March to the 21st Century”</h3> <p>China’s remarkable economic & political growth over the past two decades has enabled it to achieve social progress and growing global influences not only for Northeast Asia but the World at large. The International Community Welcomes the rise of a stable and prosperous China. The latest defense white paper of China warns that the Asia Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for world economic development and strategic interaction between major powers. The paper warns that China still faces multiple and complicated security threats and challenges.<br /><br />On the first of August People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China Celebrates its 86th founding anniversary. The PLA initially established on 1st August, 1927 through Nanchang uprising of the communist against the Nationalist. It started as Red Army, took different names at different times and situation namely New Forth route Army, Eighth Route Army and finally all transformed to People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is now the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People’s Republic of China. The total strength of the PLA has been described in detail for the first time in a white paper published by the State Council Information Office of the Chinese Government. China now has about 850000 army servicemen in 18 combined operational divisions (brigades). Currently the PLA Navy has a total strengths of 235,000 officers and crew and commands 3 fleets the Beihai, the Donghai and the Nanhai fleet, The PLA Air force now has about 398000 officers and crew and an air commend in each of the seven military area commands of Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. The PLA Second Artilery Force is a Core Force for China’s strategic deterrence. It mainly composed of nuclear and Conventional Missile forces and operational support units. The PLA is introducing sea skimming missiles, quicker submarines, and asymmetric capabilities in cyber space and other space (anti-satellite missiles), all designated to keep US carrier battle groups away from littoral areas around China in times of crisis.<br /><br />The PLA is still the largest army in the world, with an active force of 2.3m. But China’s real military strength increasingly lies elsewhere. The Pentagon’s planners think China is intent on acquiring what is called in the Jargon A2/AD or “anti-access/area denial” capabilities. The idea is to use pinpoint ground attack and anti-ship missiles, a growing fleet of modern submarines and cyber and anti-satellite weapons to destroy and disable another nation’s military assets from afar. On June 30, 2011, The General Staff Headquarters of the PLA established an Information Technology Department by regrouping its communication department. Then IT department is directly subordinate to the General Staff Headquarters and will be in charge of the management, supervision and integration of the information systems and resources within the PLA. The PLA is intimately involved in Chinese space efforts. Its space program is civilian in nature. Unlike the Kennedy Space Center in Florida or the Johnson Space Center in Houston, China’s Space facilities are all manned and operated by elements of the PLA.</p> <img src="images/parot.jpg" alt="image" class="parot" /> <p>China’s latest defense white paper also spelled out the duty of the PLA to protect the country’s overseas interests, as security issues involving marine energy and resources, strategic sea lines of communication. First. the PLA should protect Chinese people overseas. It should participate in international peacekeeping operations to provide a safe environment for overseas Chinese Workers. Second. the PLA should protect national & personal wealth overseas. So for, China’s total investment abroad has reached US$50 billion & by 2020 the figure will surpass US$ 1 trillion. Third. the PLA should ensure the security of marine energy and resources. Fourth. the PLA should ensure the security of strategic sea lines of communication. More than 90% of China’s exported Cargos are freighted by sea. The PLA has gradually improved the quality of its educational system and thereby the basic educational level of its officers, though many significant problems remain. These changes in structures, teaching styles and contents, and goals have very significant implications for the combat potential of the PLA in the 21st Century.<br /><br /> After becoming simultaneously General Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) at the 18th Chinese Communist Party Congress last November, Xi Jinping Consolidate his power base in the PLA. Xi has urged PLA forces to “get ready to fight & to Win Wars”. He has also pledged to continue boosting the PLA budget in double digits- and in particular, raising salaries and welfare of military personnel. China plans to raise its defense budget by 10.7% to 720.2 billion Yuan ($114.30 billion) in 2013. This year’s increase to the military budget is similar to the 11.20% increase in 2012. This year’s PLA budget increase has important implications for China’s military development, for its place in East Asia & the World, and for its neighbors and the United States. The Key dynamics are important, but should not be confused or conflated. Mr. Han Xudong, a professor at the University of National Defense Under the PLA said, China is planning to improve the transparency of its army and will hold 40 exercises with the military and paramilitary in 2013. According to the new regulation, the army should give priority to high tech Weapons, training & information technology, and tighten control over receptions, celebrations and overseas trips.<br /><br />The PLA has increased its participation in a broadening array of multilateral security arrangements in recent years. One of the most high-profile aspects of this trend is the dramatic expansion in Chinese peace keeping developments (of Civilian police, military observers, engineering battalions and medical units) to UN operations. China was the fourteenth largest contributor to UN peace keeping operations, providing more troops, police and observers to UN operations than three other permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, The United Kingdom and the USA, China’s Overall effort, especially since the late 1990s, to become more responsive to international expectations while making positive and tangible contributions to global peace & security. China’s stepped up peace keeping activity parallels the PLA’s growing interest to expand its non-combat missions or “military operations other than war” (MOOTW) – disaster response, humanitarian relief and counter piracy- both in china and abroad, and put into action calls by former Chinese president Hu Jintao for the PLA perform “new historic missions” in the 21st Century. According to the recently released Chinese defense White Paper, more than 22000 peace keepers have been deployed to 23 UN operations. These contributions, including repeated development of engineering battalions and police Units, provide useful and practical experiences for Chinese security forces and help improve their responsiveness, riot control capabilities, coordination of military emergency command systems and ability to conduct MOOTW at home, a concept much touted in China’s recently release defense white paper. These benefits will be reinforced if, as expected, Chinese forces increasingly take on more dangerous and possibly combat missions as part of their expanded peace keeping activities.<br /><br />The courage and solidarity of Chinese troops on UN peace keeping mission around the world has been praised by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon when he visited Beijing recently. He said, “China is a rising country in terms of political profile and economic development that also requires corresponding responsibility for world peace and development, Ban also said, “I have seen the bravery of Chinese blue helmets in helping struggling communities around the world.” For the International Community, China’s expansive engagement in peace keeping provides an important and widening window of opportunity to engage with China more closely on global security issues, help enlarge China’s Commitment to regional stability and contribute to more effective international peace keeping operations.<br /><br />Through policy and practice, China has demonstrated to the outside World that it will bring about peace and stability to the nation, the region, and the world. Amid all the concerns, suspicions and apprehension, it appears that China aims to take bigger steps towards a more open and transparent PLA in the 21st Century.</p> <p class="designation"> <strong>Nasim Mahmmud</strong><br /> Executive Director<br /> Centre for East Asia (Foundation)<br /> E-mail: info@ceafasia.org </p> </div><!--end news4--> <img src="images/news1.jpg" width="578" alt="" class="co_logo" /> <img src="images/news2.jpg" width="578" alt="" class="co_logo" /> <img src="images/news3.jpg" width="578" alt="" class="co_logo" /> <div class="news4"><!--start news4--> <img src="images/news41.jpg" width="578" alt="" class="co_logo" /> <h3 align="center">General Vo Nguyen Giap<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:normal;">- a Volcano Under Snow</span></h3> <p class="name1">General Vo Nguyen Giap, The icon of Vietnamese fighting spirit against odds, was the brilliant and ruthless commander who led the outgunned Vietnamese to victory first over the French and then the Americans. A national hero, Giap enjoyed a legacy second only to that of his mentor, founding president and independence leader Ho Chi Minh. </p> <img src="images/general_vo.jpg" width="191" height="208" alt="" class="co_logo" /> <p class="name" style="padding-bottom:0;">Born in the village of An Xa on August 25, 1911, Vo Nguyen Giap was the son of Vo Quang Nghiem. His father was a local scholar, as well as a farmer; Giap earned degrees in political economy and law from the University of Hanoi. He taught history and worked as a journalist until he was arrested in 1930, for supporting student’s strikes. Released 13 months later, he joined the communist party & began protesting against French rule of Indochina. He wrote poetry, and his French was impeccable. The French, though, were very much awared the fire of hatred that burned beneath, cool composure of Giap, who did not forget the memory of the deaths of his father and his first wife, after brutal torture, in French prisons.</p> <p class="name1" style="text-indent:0; padding-top:0;"> They called him “a volcano under snow”. In 1939, Giap married fellow socialist Nguyen Thi Quang Thai. Their marriage was brief as he was forced to flee to China. In China, Giap joined up with Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Vietnam Independence League. Between 1944 and 1945, Giap returned to Vietnam to organize guerrilla activity against the Japanese. At that time, he made an improbable soldier. He had no training and was not considered likely become a military commander. All the while, Giap was a dedicated reader of military history and philosophy. He revered Sun Tzu. He also made a particular study of Nepolean’s generalship, and greatly admired T.E. Lawrence’s “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”, learning from it practical examples of how to apply minimum military force to maximum effect. Giap was made responsible for establishing an intelligence network and organizing political bases in the far north of the country. To begin propaganda work among the population, a news sheet called Viet Nam Doc Lap was produced. He was proud, hot tempered, blustered into a number of unnecessary pitched battles but won his two wars.<br /><br />Giap is best remembered for leading Vietnamese forces to victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The unlikely victory-still studied at military schools – led to Vietnam’s independence and hastened the collapse of colonialism across Indochina and beyond. Giap then defeated the US based South Vietnam government in April 1975, reuniting a country that had been split into communist and noncommunist states. Against US forces with sophisticated weapons and B-52 bombers, Giap’s guerrillas prevailed again. But more than 1 million of his troops died in what is known in Vietnam as the “American War”. Historian Stanley Karnow, who quoted Giap as saying, “we were not strong enough to drive out a half-million American troops, but that was not our aim. Our intention was to break the will of the American government to continue the War.” On April 30, 1975 communist forces marched through Saigon with tanks, bulldozing the gates of what was then known as Independence palace. That victory came at a price for all sides: the deaths of many as 3 million communists and civilians, an estimated 25,000 South Vietnamese troops and 58000 Americans. On 28 August 1945, Giap had led his men into Hanoi, and on 2 September Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Throughout most of the war, Giap served as defense minister, armed forces commander and a senior member of Vietnam’s ruling communist party. After Ho Chi Minh’s death in 1969, the glory for victory in 1975 went largely to General Van Tien Dung, Chief of the General Staff by the upcoming generation. Despite his diminishing influence with the government, the thin, white-haired man became even more beloved in Vietnam as he continued to speak out. Giap celebrated his 100th birthday in 2011. He was the author of several military texts including people’s Army, people’s War and Big Victory, Great Task. His text books on guerrilla warfare inspired revolutionaries and insurgents the world over. In 2004 prior to the battle’s 50th anniversary Giap told foreign journalists, “We are very proud that Vietnam was the first colony that could stand up and gain independence on its own”.<br /><br />On October 4, 2013, a government official announced that Giap had died at Central Military Hospital in Hanoi, where he had been under old age care since 2009. He was 102. He was buried his home town in Quang Binn province in Central Vietnam. Communist Party Leader Nguyen Phu Trong said, “Giap is the general of the people and his name will be forever engraved in the history of the nation”. Leaders of the UN and its committees and agencies, ambassadors and diplomats in the UN subsequently expressed their deep condolences over the death of the legendary General. Thousands of people paid their respects to general Giap in Hanoi and at military centers across the Vietnam. Dao Huy Hoang a 21 year old Hanoi student said, “I never heard guns or bombs but I know our history. After uncle Ho & general Giap, it would be hard to find anyone like them, who dedicated their lives to the country without thinking of their personal interest.” Late in life, Giap encouraged warmer relations between Vietnam and the US, who reestablished ties in 1995 and have become close development partners. Vietnam has also recently looked forward to the cooperation of US military to balance China’s growing power in South China Sea. Where over lapping shelf regions and islands are in long standing disputes involving several nations. Giap said, “We can put the past behind. But we cannot completely forget it”. </p> <p class="designation"> <strong>Nasim Mahmmud</strong><br /> Executive Director<br /> Centre for East Asia (Foundation)<br /> E-mail: info@ceafasia.org </p> </div> <div class="clr"></div> </div> </div><!--end the container left--> <div class="container_right"> <div class="con_bar"> <div class="phone"></div> <div class="img_text"> <marquee behavior="scroll" direction="up" scrollamount="3" onmouseover="this.stop()" onmouseout="this.start()" width="200" height="800" style="margin-left:30px; padding-left:22px;"> <img src="images/flag/images.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/imges.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in1ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in2de6x.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in2dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in3dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in4dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in5dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in6dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in12dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/i3ndex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/imag2es.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/in42dex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ind2ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ind5ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ind6ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ind8ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ind9ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ind56ex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/inde2x.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/inde3x.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/inde6x.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/inde7x.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/index2.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/index3.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/index5.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/index.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/ndex.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/denmark.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> <img src="images/flag/s_arabia.jpg" width="150" height="110" class="flag" /> </marquee> <div class="clr"></div> </div> <div class="clr"></div> </div> </div> </div><!--end the container--> <div class="clr"></div> <div class="clr"></div> </div><!--end the layout--> <div class="clr"></div> <?php echo require_once('footer_top.php'); ?> </div><!--end the maindiv--> </body> </html>