China favours seaport, Kunming-Ctg rail links
Staff Reporter
The Chinese government has given a very positive and encouraging response to Bangladesh's proposals on building a deep seaport and the Chittagong-Kunming road and rail links through Myanmar, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said yesterday.
"We received a very positive and encouraging response from both the central Chinese government and the provincial government of Yunan on building a deep seaport and the Chittagong-Kunming road and rail links through Myanmar," she told a crowded press conference at the Foreign Ministry after the five-day visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China which ended on Sunday.
The Foreign Minister said that China also decided to write off all loans and their interests given to Bangladesh till 2008. She, however, could not provide the volume of the loans and interests.
Asked whether China has showed interest to invest in building the planned deep sea port in Cox's Bazar, she said assistance would be needed from more than one country since the project would require huge investment.
Once the deep seaport is built, not only be China, people from other countries, including Bangladesh, would get benefit out of it. The cost of Chinese products will be lesser here than previous because of closing the distance, Dipu Moni said, adding that "China is not only a source of import but a partner of our overall development," she said.
Terming the Prime Minister's visit to China as effective, important, historic, timely and fruitful one, she said it has opened the doors of cooperation between two friendly countries.
Dipu Moni said, during the visit, both the premiers emphasised the need for building a network between the Bangladesh and China on the basis of closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation from the strategic perspective.
Chinese investment and relocation of its labor-intensive industries in Bangladesh might help reduce the trade gap. Besides, we also have to expand its export basket, she said.
Dipu Moni said Bangladesh sought cooperation of China in purchasing arms and they gave a positive response in this regard.
Referring to the three agreements and one MoU signed during the visit, she said the visit opened up a new chapter of cooperation between the two friendly counties.
The accords are: Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement with Adequate Grant, Framework Agreement for Construction of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory, Agreement for Construction of the 7th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, and MoU on Bangladesh-China Cooperation in Oil and Gas sectors.
Replying to a question on the management of Brahmaputra river that has been originated in China, the Foreign Minister said Bangladesh wants joint management of this river, which has been appreciated by the Chinese side.
Presently, the two countries would exchange data and information about the flow of the river and at one stage we would be able to work under a joint management of the river. The matter was also discussed with India, she said.
In reply to another question, Dipu Moni said Bangladesh-India Joint Rivers Commission was an advancement towards an agreement for sharing of Teesta river waters.
"There is no reason to be frustrated. We cannot term the JRC meeting frustrating also. Much progress was gained at the meeting and more will come in future," she said.
The Foreign Minister said the matter removing the trade gap was discussed during the official meeting when the Chinese side expressed willingness to provide duty-free access to more Bangladeshi products and increase the volume of imports from Bangladesh.
On the outcome of the technical committee meeting on maritime boundary dispute, she said both sides placed their proposals and expressed their own stand to resolve the dispute through discussion.
The New Nation - Internet Edition
US-China thingy does ring a bell
Zakir brother i think close relations with China are in best interests of BD if we compare BD-Indo relations with BD-China relations due to the reason that BD and China has no mistrust for each other unlike in the other case.
