The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka has said the remarks by the US ambassador on China-Bangladesh relations were made with ulterior motives.

“The Chinese embassy has made clear its solemn position on the relevant issue. The US Ambassador to Bangladesh was singing the same old tune again, pointed fingers at China-Bangladesh relations and was mixing white and black. Such remarks are made with ulterior motives,” the embassy said today.

Reuters today ran an interview of US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen, who said the US is concerned about China’s expanding presence in South Asia and is planning to offer Bangladesh’s next government US and allied defence systems as alternatives to Chinese hardware.

Hours after the report was published, the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka issued the media statement.

A spokesperson at the embassy said he would like to reiterate that China and Bangladesh respect and support each other and have set a fine example of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.

“China is a trustworthy partner of South Asian countries, and its friendly cooperation with South Asian countries has safeguarded peace and stability in the region, promoted development and revitalisation, and has been supported and welcomed by the peoples in the region,” the spokesperson said.

He said China-Bangladesh relations, as well as China’s relations with other South Asian countries, are not targeted at any third party, nor will they be swayed by any external force.

“Any attempt to interfere in or obstruct these relations is doomed to fail,” the Chinese Embassy spokesperson said.