Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Hamid in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Oct. 14, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

DHAKA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday hailed major opportunities for China-Bangladesh ties during his meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Hamid.

During Xi's visit, both sides decided to upgrade the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation, raising the bilateral relationship to a new level.

The two sides agreed to improve cooperation mechanism in various fields, and actively push forward the implementation of major projects in key areas, said Xi.

Both sides pledged to step up the construction projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and boost connectivity, development and prosperity in the region for the well-being of the two peoples, said the Chinese president.

The two sides also vowed to make unremitting efforts to implement the the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and push forward South-South cooperation, Xi said.

Bangladesh, Xi said, is an important country in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and also a country with a huge population.

With a history of friendly exchanges dating back over a thousand years, the two peoples have amiable feelings for each other, said the Chinese president.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the leaders of the older generation of the two countries also laid a solid foundation for bilateral ties, Xi said.

Bilateral diplomatic ties, established 41 years ago, have maintained a healthy and smooth development under the guidance of "the five principles of peaceful co-existence," bringing practical benefits to both peoples, said Xi.

China appreciates Bangladesh's precious support on issues concerning China's core interests, and supports Bangladesh's efforts to defend independence and sovereignty and seek national stability and development, said the Chinese president.

For his part, Hamid said the Bangladeshi people have been looking forward to Xi's visit.

Bilateral ties, based on equality and mutual respect, have a long history and now face new opportunities, said Hamid.

China has become Bangladesh's first strategic partner of cooperation with the upgrading of bilateral ties during Xi's visit, he said.

With similar development goals, both sides enjoy huge cooperation potential in such areas as trade, investment, agriculture, energy and infrastructure, Hamid said.

Bangladesh will continue to work with China to support each other on issues concerning their core interests, and stands ready to become China's reliable partner while strengthening coordination with China on major regional and international issues, he said.

Xi arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day for a state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to this South Asian nation in 30 years.

Bangladesh is the second leg of Xi's visit, which has already taken him to Cambodia. He will also travel to the southwestern Indian state of Goa for a summit of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.