DHAKA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of noted personalities including ministers, parliamentarians, government high-ups, diplomats, senior politicians, journalists and businessmen gathered in a grand ceremony Sunday night in Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka to mark new China's 60th founding anniversary.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zhang Xianyi hosted the ceremony Sunday to celebrate 60 years founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China at Bangabandhu International Conference Center, also called Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.
Decorated by red lanterns, the main hall of the center where the reception took place was imbued with an atmosphere of festivity with participation of over 600 guests who gave their warmest greetings to the 60 years birthday of new China.
The guests at the ceremony not only congratulate but also wish the Chinese government as well as its people in their struggle to build a powerful, modernized and prosperous nation and hope the East Asian country would contribute more to the world's peace and development.
"My congratulation to the great people of China and their government and leaders. I share their joy and their festivity in this great day," HT Imam, adviser to Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Xinhua as he attended the ceremony.
He said, "I sincerely hope that our two great nations will continue to work together in future and the friendship between China and Bangladesh will continue to grow and further strengthen."
Syed Ashraful Islam, secretary general of the South Asian country's ruling party Awami League (AL) which came to power in December 2008, said, "I congratulate the great nation's people and the government on behalf of my party."
Islam, also a minister for Local Government and Rural Development, said China's development is a peaceful development and the country devotes to building a harmonious world. "I hope our friendship with China will further strengthen in the future," he said.
Secretary General of the country's main opposition party in Parliament Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khandaker Delwar Hossain also paid glowing tributes to the Chinese government and its people.
"China today is changing fast. But all its changes are directed to the welfare of its people to the advancement of their quality of life," he said.
Reviewing China's development since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, former president of Bangladesh Hussain Muhammad Ershad, hailed China's evolving in the past decades into a thriving economy.
"China is really our greatest friend," said Ershad.
Many in the gathering congratulated China on the success of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics as well as the Shenzhou-7 manned space mission, in particular China's first ever space walk.
Through these epic events, people across the world have understood the enormous progress and tremendous achievements of China, said former science minister and also a senior BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan.
The great nation which has rich heritage of civilization has become a great nation in the world removing all hurdles under pragmatic policies and wise leadership, Bangladeshi Minister for Agriculture Motia Chowdhury said.
China has long been supporting countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America in their struggle for development, former Bangladesh Ambassador to China Chowdhury Manzur Morshed said while he shared his past memories of China experiences.
