Dhaka, June 27 -- Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman says that he has felt embarrassed by questions raised over financial assistance during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's official visit to China.

State leaders do not engage in international diplomacy with a "begging bowl", he said.

Responding to a query concerning direct project assistance from Beijing, the minister said: "You spoke of cash receipts. Brothers, please do not ask such questions; it embarrasses us greatly. He (the prime minister) went there to establish the direction, substance, stature, scope, and depth of the relationship between the two nations. No head of government ever sits down with another state leader holding sheets of paper and pencils, nor do they carry a begging...