Bangladesh to get help from China for various projects

Dhaka: China will provide special preferential treatment for access of some Bangladeshi products to its market to reduce the prevailing trade imbalance between the two countries and cooperate in paving the way for implementation of the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant.

It assured cooperation in constructing two more bridges Meghna and Gomti bridges in Bangladesh.

China will also consider Bangladesh's request for engaging itself in the Bangladesh-Myanmar road link scheme meant for enhancing trade and people-to-people contact.

The assurances came during official talks between Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People yesterday.

It was hoped at the official talks that trade volume between the two countries would reach a targeted $5billion by 2010.

The talks lasted about an hour, covering politics, trade and economic cooperation and investment as well as agricultural cooperation.

The chief adviser requested China's involvement in Bangladesh-Myanmar road communications to connect Kunming of China with the trans-border road link and sought Chinese government's cooperation in constructing a 111-kilometer road.

Responding positively to Bangladesh's request, the Chinese side said they would talk to Myanmar. Similarly, Bangladesh side said they would also carry it forward with Myanmar.

The meeting emphasised tripartite meeting involving Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Responding to the request of the chief adviser, the Chinese side instantly declared that they would double the present number of Bangladesh's student scholarships from 50 to 100.

At the official talks it was told that China would send a delegation to Bangladesh over the matter of Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant.

On investment, Bangladesh offered to set up a special economic zone for China.

The Chinese side showed interest, saying that top Chinese companies will invest in Bangladesh. They also assured that China would extend cooperation in setting up North-West Fertilizer Company in Bangladesh.

The chief adviser said China's technical know-how and Bangladesh workers and cheap labour force can make up a “win-win situation” for trade and investment for both the countries.

Defence and technical cooperation between Bangladesh and China was also discussed and the two sides hoped that the cooperation would be further strengthened.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossian, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed and Secretary of CA's Office Kazi Aminul Islam from Bangladesh side, while Chinese foreign minister, vice- minister of commerce, Chinese ambassador to Dhaka and assistant minister for foreign affairs were present at the official talks.

After the talks, an agreement on economic and technical cooperation and two memoranda of understanding (MoU) on hydrological information on the Brahmaputra river and on agricultural technical cooperation were signed.

Foreign Secretary M Touhid Hossain and Bangladesh Ambassador in Beijing Munshi Faiz Ahmed and two vice-ministers and head of Agriculture Academy signed the agreement and MoUs on behalf of their respective sides. Chief Adviser Fakhruddin and the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the signing ceremony.

The chief adviser also met Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-president Xi Jinping.

The top leaders of the present-day economic superpower its president, premier and vice-president--remarked that the Bangladesh-China friendship is “an all-weather friendship” that remains alive overcoming various issues.

The Chinese rulers assured Bangladesh of all-out cooperation in accelerating its socioeconomic development.

They said the visit of the chief adviser will remain as a “milestone” in the friendship between Bangladesh and China.

After the talks, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim bri