Chinese embassy holds reception to mark 88th anniversary of PLA

DHAKA, July 29 (NsNewsWire) -Chinese embassy in Dhaka has held a reception to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.

About 300 guests, including high-ranking officers of Bangladesh forces, military attaches from embassies in Bangladesh, foreign diplomats and scholars attended the event  held on Tuesday night at the Chinese embassy.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang extended his warm congratulations to the PLA anniversary that falls on Aug. 1.

In his welcome speech, Senior Colonel Zhang Wei, military attache of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka,   highlighted the rapid progress in Bangladesh-China military cooperation in the last few years, hailing it ” the unprecedented level of cooperation”.

Over the last three decades, he said in his written speech that Bangladesh and China have maintained close defence ties.

“China is not only a reliable and affordable source of weapons and equipments for Bangladesh armed forces, but also provides military technology and training.”

He said Chinese PLA Navy ship “Peace Ark” visited Bangladesh’s southeastern Chittagong again and provided humanitarian medical services for local people.

Bangladesh so far is the only country in the world to receive Chinese medical ship twice, he added.

Notably , he mentioned , Air Chief  Marshal Xu Qiliang , also Vice Chairman of Chinese Central Military Commission, and Vice Premier of China Liu Yangdong
Visited Bangladesh with great success.

The topmost Chinese delegations called on the Bangladeshi president and the prime minister and signed a series of agreements.

During Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s China visit, he said the two sides have agreed to forge closer defence relationns in the future, which includes growing number of high level exchange visits, training programs,  joint excercises, defence procurement, security cooperation such as counter terrorism, anti-piracy, peace-keeping cooperation and disaster management.

Established on August 1, 1927, the PLA is the principal body of China’s armed forces encompassing the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Second Artillery Corps.