Khalilur urges journo to avoid making ‘embarrassing queries’ over China tour's 'tangible outcomes'

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Saturday urged a journalist at a presser to avoid “embarrassing questions” after the latter inquired about the “tangible outcomes” from the PM’s recent China tour.

The foreign minister also told the journalist to have “respect and dignity” for their own country, which he said has by now reached new heights.

No government head of a country sits down with another country’s top leader with “baskets for alms,” the minister noted while speaking at the press conference held at the Foreign Ministry’s Office in the capital.

No government head joins a bilateral meeting with a cheap paper and pencil to list the alms he/she expects to get, Khalilur said, adding questions concerning “tangible outcomes” from a foreign tour are “truly embarrassing.”

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman too did not go to Beijing with a “beggar’s basket.”

Rather, the tour was aimed at establishing the future direction of Bangladesh-China ties, its content, height, width and depth, Khalilur noted.

“Other things” would come “later,” he added.