Dhaka – China and Bangladesh on Thursday agreed to deepen their relationships, with a hope of opening a new era of friendship, cooperation and collaboration, reinforcing the strategic ties between the two nations.
Both the countries have also agreed to boost investment, trade, cultural ties and people to people exchange as both countries as they mark 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relationships, according to a statement by the Chief Adviser’s ppress wing received in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in the coastal Chinese town and the two leaders also led a bilateral meeting between the two nations.
“President Xi Jinping attaches tremendous importance to your visit,” Vice-Premier Ding said, adding that China hopes Bangladesh would prosper and grow under the leadership of Yunus.
During the meeting, Yunus reiterated the country’s firm commitment to the One-China policy and said Dhaka takes pride in being the first South Asian country to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Dhaka sought Chinese support in an array of developments and livelihood projects and also called for reduction of interest rates for Chinese loans from 3 per cent to 1-2 per cent to Bangladesh. It also sought a waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects, and duty-free access to Bangladeshi goods in China.
The Chief Adviser also sought Beijing’s help in facilitating the relocation of the Chinese manufacturing industries, including garments, electric vehicles, light machinery, high-tech electronics, chip manufacturing and the solar panel industry.
Ding Xuexiang said Beijing will extend duty-free and quota-free access to Bangladeshi goods to China until 2028 – two years after Dhaka graduates from a Least Developed Country to a middle-income economy.
Beijing is also keen to start free trade negotiations with Dhaka, he said.
The Executive Vice-Premier said his country would fund modernisation efforts of the Mongla Port and the Dasherkandi Sewage project.
The Vice Premier said China last year signed a protocol to import mangoes from Bangladesh. Officials said Bangladesh’s mango export to China would begin this summer.
Beijing would also import jackfruit and guava and other aquatic products from the country in Its attempt to minimise huge trade imbalance, he said.
He said the Chinese government and its universities would grant more scholarships to Bangladeshi students. Several thousand Bangladeshi students are already studying in Chinese universities.
The Vice Premier assured Chinese funding for the purchase of four ocean-going vessels for Dhaka’s state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.
He said Beijing would foster dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in an effort to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
The Chief Adviser thanked the Chinese leadership for their support, saying Thursday’s meeting ‘marks another milestone in the ever-deepening Bangladesh-China partnership.’
“Let us resolve to work together to usher in a new era of friendship, cooperation and collaboration, reinforcing the strategic ties between our two nations,” he said.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, Energy, Rail and Road Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative of the Chief Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and BiDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury were present during the meeting.