Joining ‘Quad’ will harm Dhaka-Beijing ties

Terming “Quad” a military alliance aiming against China’s resurgence and its relationship with neighbouring countries, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Monday said Bangladesh should not join “Quad”, a US-led initiative, and Bangladesh’s relations with China will “substantially get damaged” if it joins it.

The ambassador said Quad was a “narrow-purposed” geopolitical clique, and Bangladesh should not join it, since Bangladesh will not derive any benefit from it.

US, India, Japan and Australia are part of an informal strategic alliance - the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad as it is known.

“History has proved again and again such partnership surely damages our neighbours’ own social, economic development and people’s wellbeing,” Ambassador Li said.

The Chinese Ambassador was speaking at a program with the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) held virtually.

DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the programme.

On April 27, Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe met President Abdul Hamid and the two sides agreed to advance bilateral military cooperation.

To jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the two sides should make joint efforts against powers outside the region, setting up a military alliance in South Asia and practising hegemonism, Wei was quoted by Xinhua.