The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has said Bangladesh and China can work together to make the ‘Kunming Initiative’, including Bangladesh-China-Myanmar road link, a success.
The prime minister also expressed hope that China will remain responsive to some of Bangladesh concerns to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries to some extent.
The prime minister said this when newly-appointed Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun met her at her office in Dhaka on Tuesday.
PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina invited more Chinese investments in textile, agro-processing, energy and power, pharmaceutical, communications and infrastructure development saying that the Chinese entrepreneurs could avail of excellent opportunities on offer for foreign investment.
She also said Bangladesh attached great importance to its friendly relations
with China.
Issues relating to pending projects like direct road link, communication satellite, deep seaport, new friendship bridge and the proposed Padma Bridge also came up for discussion at the meeting.
Hasina said the present government gave emphasis on further advancing the ‘Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation with China.
She expressed her happiness over the continued Chinese assistance and support for various key development projects like power, agriculture, infrastructure and telecommunications in Bangladesh.
Hasina also voiced satisfaction over the steady growth of bilateral trade though the trade imbalance is heavily tilted against Bangladesh.
The prime minister recalled her successful visit to China in March 2010 as well as the tour of the Chinese vice-president to Bangladesh.
Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s steadfast support to ‘One China Policy’ considering Tibet and Taiwan as the integral parts of mainland China.
The envoy paid rich tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled the great leader’s visit to China.
He also highly praised the visionary and dynamic leadership of Hasina and said Bangladesh had achieved tremendous success in socioeconomic development due to various pragmatic steps of the present government.
Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin, PMO secretary Molla Waheeduzzaman and press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present on the occasion.