Dhaka: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Monday extended their heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on securing her party’s absolute majority in the 11th parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Zuo handed over their congratulatory messages to Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban, reports the UNB.

The ambassador highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership for development of Bangladesh and hoped that her Vision-2021 will be materialised and the country will be turned into a middle income country by 2021 under her dynamic leadership.

Zhang Zuo also hoped that Bangladesh will be able to bring down poverty rate to zero soon due to the farsighted programmes of Bangladesh Prime Minister.

The Chinese envoy expressed hope that the strategic and mutual cooperation between the two countries will continue in the days to come.

The Chinese envoy paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, terming him a great leader of the world.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked the Chinese President and Prime Minister for congratulating her and appreciated continued support of Beijing for the development of Bangladesh.

Describing China as a great friend of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina expects more investment from China during next five years of her tenure.

Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed Putul, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Military Secretary Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin and PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Minister of Tripura Biplobi Kumar Deb also greeted Sheikh Hasina on re-election of her party with absolute majority in the national polls.