China expresses willingness to construct deep seaport in Bangladesh

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

China expresses willingness to construct deep seaport in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

DHAKA, Dec 22, 2012 (BSS) - Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Li Jun today reiterated his country's willingness to help construct the deep seaport in Bangladesh alongside his country's enhanced connectivity while Bangladeshi experts suggested Beijing's engagement, exploration and security of Bay of Bengal.

"Our government will provide its all supports especially in infrastructure, trade and investment for the benefit of both the countries," Li told a seminar on 'Bangladesh- China cooperation and the security dimension of the Bay of Bangal' in the CIRDAP auditorium here.

He added Beijing was ready to extend hands of cooperation to construct the proposed deep seaport and direct road link through Myanmar to "accelerate economic progress of the region".

"Bangladesh is an important neighboring country for China.As both Bangladesh and China are developing countries, there are enormous prospects of the existing ties between the two nations," the envoy said.

Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed moderated the dialogue, joined by Former Adviser to the caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Former Army Chief Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Former Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmed, senior columnist Sadeq Khan and BGMEA Vice President Faruque Hassan, among others.

President of Bangladesh Political Science Association Prof Dr Ataur Rahman presented the keynote paper.

In his keynote paper, Prof Dr Ataur said Bangladesh relations with China in strategic term has assumed new level of significance because of its location in the Bay of Bengal and growing importance of the seas for security and development of both the countries.

He said the economic rise of China and its strategic importance in the sea have created a new space to reinvent its historic link with Bangladesh.

China is the second largest economic power in the world, other speakers said adding Bangladesh could be a lucrative investment destination for China due to its cheap labour cost.

They also urged both Bangladesh and Chinese government to take long-term policy approach to reduce trade gap between the two countries.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

China placates worries over Bangladesh sea port

Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh

Published : Sunday, 23 December 2012

China's interest in building deep sea port in Bangladesh was solely on 'business reason' and 'not for military use', its ambassador in Dhaka said Saturday, placating concerns from some quarters about the Asian power's interest in the coveted infrastructure project, reports bdnews24.com.

"We believe in Bangladesh's economic development," Li Jun said at a seminar, "We want to see a stable South Asia."

The ambassador said several years ago some Chinese companies showed their interest to build the port and few of them also opened up offices in Dhaka.

"Some countries showed their concern about it," he said without naming any, "But China is open to cooperate with all."

"Our interest was not for military use, it's for business reason," the ambassador of the world's second largest economy with which Bangladesh has strong military relations, said.

Officials say Bangladesh wants to build a deep sea port at Sonadia to cater to the growing need of cargo movement for the country and the region.

China, and India had showed interests for the proposed port long before and recently the UAE offered its investment in building the project.

Analysts find Bangladesh in quagmire as the two rising powers in Asia - China and India -- want to have their control in the Bay of Bengal, an important sea for Bangladesh's security and development.

Apart from investing in deep sea port, a number of strategic initiatives with China like constructing an oil-pipeline from Chittagong to Kunming and connecting with the Kunming, Myanmar road link were much-talked about issues in recent years.

Analysts said the initiatives remained unrealised, because of strategic dynamics of 'triangular relations' between India, China and the United States.

The ambassador said: "Bangladesh has a tradition to work with western big companies. But when they (western companies) get contracts, they give sub-contract to Chinese companies."