A Chinese New Year celebration ceremony was held in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Wednesday night with artists from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region giving performance to entertain the audience.

Dignitaries including Bangladeshi Education Minister Dipu Moni and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming, among others, attended the ceremony.

The Chinese embassy in collaboration with the department of culture and tourism of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Bangladesh-China Friendship Center, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh and China State Construction Engineering Corporation organized the ceremony which also marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his welcome speech, Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming said over the past 45 years, based on the principles of mutual respect and benefits, the China-Bangladesh relationship has withstood the test of the time and changes of international situation and maintained the momentum of robust growth.

Looking forward into the year of 2020, the Year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, he said the Chinese side is ready to join hands with the Bangladeshi government and people, taking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides as a great opportunity, to enhance synergy of development plans of the two sides, jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative, increase mutual understanding, build a stronger China-Bangladesh community with a shared future and embark on a new journey to take the China-Bangladesh strategic cooperative partnership to new heights.

Bangladeshi Education Minister Moni said Bangladesh's friendship with China has a history of thousands of years.

Noting that Bangladesh and China have always been good friends since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the minister said Bangladesh will work together with China to boost cooperation in all sectors for more fruitful outcomes in the future.