Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug 23, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING/DHAKA - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her reelection as Bangladeshi prime minister.

In his congratulatory message, Xi noted that China and Bangladesh are neighbors with traditional friendship.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 49 years ago, Xi said, the two countries have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and shared mutual benefits.   

Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a congratulatory message to Hasina on Thursday

Xi said China and Bangladesh have always supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and joined hands in advancing their respective paths of development and revitalization, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries.   

Xi recalled that he and Hasina met in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August last year, and reached an important consensus on developing China-Bangladesh relations.

It is hoped that China and Bangladesh will work together to further implement the important consensus reached between the two sides, deepen political mutual trust, carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, enhance Belt and Road cooperation with high quality, and continuously push China-Bangladesh strategic cooperative partnership to new levels, Xi said.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a congratulatory message to Hasina.

ALSO READ: China congratulates AL party on winning Bangladesh's election

On Wednesday, Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed Hasina as the new prime minister of the South Asian country.

Hasina, along with other lawmakers from her party, took oath as members of parliament on Wednesday after the victory of her party in Sunday's general elections

This is Hasina's fourth consecutive term as the country's prime minister.

The president also invited her to form a new government as her party has gained the confidence of the majority of the members of the parliament, the country's Cabinet Division said in a gazette notification.

Hasina, along with other lawmakers from her party, took oath as members of parliament on Wednesday after the victory of her party in Sunday's general elections.

ALSO READ: Bangladesh's newly elected MPs to take oath of office

According to a gazette notification published by the Election Commission on Tuesday afternoon, the AL party led by Hasina won 222 out of 298 seats of the parliament. The AL-led alliance bagged a landslide win with 225 seats.