Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Saturday said Bangladesh has reached a different level and no longer goes anywhere carrying a "begging bag," urging the media to refrain from asking "embarrassing" questions about the immediate gains from high-level foreign visits.
“You talked about cash gains. Brother, don't ask this kind of question. We feel very embarrassed. He (Prime Minister Tarique Rahman) did not go (to China) carrying a begging bag. He went (there) to establish the direction of the relationship between the two countries,” Dr Khalilur said, highlighting the content, scope, depth and significance of the visit.
He made the remarks, visibly expressing displeasure, when a journalist asked about the immediate gains from the Prime Minister's China visit during a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Minister said no head of government sits with another head of government with a piece of paper and a pencil, nor does anyone travel with a "begging bag."
“Have a little self-respect. We have reached a different level. Believe in it. These are very embarrassing questions,” he added.
Highlighting the major outcomes of the Prime Minister's just-concluded visit to China, the Foreign Minister said Bangladesh's relations with China have been elevated from a "Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership" to a "Bangladesh-China Community with a Shared Future," the highest level of bilateral cooperation with China.
“This is the highest step in terms of China's bilateral engagement,” he told reporters while outlining the achievements of the Prime Minister's twin visits to Malaysia and China.
He said the photographs and videos from the Prime Minister's visits to Malaysia and China reflected Bangladesh's growing importance and underscored the strengthening of Dhaka's relations with Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the media briefing.