Interview: China’s proposals to cultivate poverty-free, socialist world for all humankind: Bangladesh minister

by Naim-Ul-Karim

DHAKA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) — China’s proposals to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty are a blessing in building a poverty free, socialist world for all humankind, said a member of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Cabinet.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently, Bangladesh’s Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said, “China has come up with some very important proposals.”

Inu, who became a minister in 2012 and was charged with the information ministry portfolio, said, “China has come up with very interesting proposals which will cultivate peace and humanity around the globe” adding that a socialist world with Chinese characteristics will propel development.

China’s proposal of building “a community of shared future for all humankind,” clearly indicates that Chinese leaders are thinking globally, said Inu, also the president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), an ally of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling grand alliance.

The seasoned Bangladeshi politician said that the development path for China is founded in socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Market forces will be used in the socialist economy but China will never surrender its economy to the western market economy, said the veteran Bangladesh politician, who started his political career in 1969 as the general secretary of the Chhatra League (student wing of Bangladesh Awami League) at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

“Chinese experiences have shown that the charismatic use of the market forces within the parameters of socialism has helped Chinese society to march ahead.”

China fully intends to eradicate poverty and the world’s second-largest economy will continue to grow into a prosperous society under modern socialist ideology, Inu said.

“The Communist Party of China (CPC) has emphasized the importance of eradicating poverty from Chinese society by 2020,” said Inu with reference to China’s successful poverty alleviation drives over the last five years, which have seen more than 60 million Chinese elevated above the poverty line.

“Our understanding is that if you want a prosperous society there is no room for poverty. If you want to create a modern socialist society then that paradigm cannot include poverty,” he said.

Inu went on to say that China’s experience in significantly reducing poverty levels could be helpful for Bangladeshi society.

“That is why we Bangladeshis are carefully watching the strategy and tactics used to eliminate poverty by the CPC in China,” the minister told Xinhua, adding that China’s experience will help pull Bangladesh out of poverty.

Inu also praised China for instituting global development initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative, Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar-Economic Corridor (BCIM EC) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).