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China will consider easing visas for Bangladeshis and enhance trade concessions as the regional power eyes to work closely with the South Asian country.
The new Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed this willingness while meeting a high-level Bangladesh delegation, led by the foreign secretary, currently visiting China the first after the new leadership took power last year.
Md Shahidul Haque reached China on June 26 with the representatives of Prime Ministers Office, Economic Relations Division, Ministries of Communications and Commerce, Armed Forces Division, Board of Investment and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs media release said during their wide-ranging bilateral talks, Bangladesh requested the Chinese side to ease visa procedures, which, the foreign secretary described, would ultimately help boost trade and economic activities.
The Chinese side reacted positively to consider the request, particularly for tourists and businessmen and proposed to hold bilateral consultation on Consular matters to identify the modalities of simplifying visa procedures.
They also offered to host the meeting.
The two-way trade between Bangladesh and China surpassed $8 billion last year with an increase by 17 percent from the previous year.
In the first quarter of this year, the trade volume reached to $3.3 billion. But there is a huge trade imbalance.
The Chinese side said that they were thinking of expanding the preferential trade arrangement which would cover almost 95 percent of Bangladesh goods as well as to discuss the issue of rules of origin to reduce the trade imbalance.
According to the media release, as an immediate measure to address this issue, China offered to consider additional trade concessions.
The foreign secretary also gave a list of 17 products for duty free access to China, while meeting the Vice Minister for Commerce Gao Yan.
The Secretary also proposed to set up an office of China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Dhaka.
He also proposed some important infrastructural projects for construction of bridges and other road infrastructure, which Chinese side took note of.
The Vice-Minister also assured the Foreign Secretary of giving priority to infrastructure and disaster management projects.
The foreign ministry said the meeting of the Bangladesh-China Joint Economic Commission (JEC), scheduled to be held in Dhaka in September, would discuss this issue further.
China also invited a Bangladesh team to identify the possible areas of cooperation in the maritime sector as Bangladesh sought help in the exploration of natural resources under the ocean, deep sea fishing, and establishment of a maritime institute during their meeting with the Deputy Administrator Chen Lianzeng of the State Oceanic Administration.
Both sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultation (FoC) in Dhaka within this year during their meeting with the Chinese foreign minister and emphasised high level bilateral visits at the political, parliamentarian and government level to further consolidate the relations.
They also expressed their satisfactions about the ongoing defence cooperation and the Chinese side expressed their willingness to invite the Chiefs of Armed Forces for visiting China.
The Chinese government also sought Bangladeshs support to achieve the desired goals of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) forum.
Bangladesh assured of full support to promote trade and connectivity.
The Chinese Premier in his recent visit to India signed a joint statement where both sides agreed to consult with Bangladesh and Myanmar with a view to establishing a Joint Study Group to explore the economic advantage of the region.
The Bangladesh delegation will also visit Hubei and Yunnan province, where they would meet with high government officials including Governor of Yunnan.
The delegation is scheduled to return Dhaka on July 1.
source: Easy Chinese visa for Bangladeshis - bdnews24.com
The new Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed this willingness while meeting a high-level Bangladesh delegation, led by the foreign secretary, currently visiting China the first after the new leadership took power last year.
Md Shahidul Haque reached China on June 26 with the representatives of Prime Ministers Office, Economic Relations Division, Ministries of Communications and Commerce, Armed Forces Division, Board of Investment and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs media release said during their wide-ranging bilateral talks, Bangladesh requested the Chinese side to ease visa procedures, which, the foreign secretary described, would ultimately help boost trade and economic activities.
The Chinese side reacted positively to consider the request, particularly for tourists and businessmen and proposed to hold bilateral consultation on Consular matters to identify the modalities of simplifying visa procedures.
They also offered to host the meeting.
The two-way trade between Bangladesh and China surpassed $8 billion last year with an increase by 17 percent from the previous year.
In the first quarter of this year, the trade volume reached to $3.3 billion. But there is a huge trade imbalance.
The Chinese side said that they were thinking of expanding the preferential trade arrangement which would cover almost 95 percent of Bangladesh goods as well as to discuss the issue of rules of origin to reduce the trade imbalance.
According to the media release, as an immediate measure to address this issue, China offered to consider additional trade concessions.
The foreign secretary also gave a list of 17 products for duty free access to China, while meeting the Vice Minister for Commerce Gao Yan.
The Secretary also proposed to set up an office of China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Dhaka.
He also proposed some important infrastructural projects for construction of bridges and other road infrastructure, which Chinese side took note of.
The Vice-Minister also assured the Foreign Secretary of giving priority to infrastructure and disaster management projects.
The foreign ministry said the meeting of the Bangladesh-China Joint Economic Commission (JEC), scheduled to be held in Dhaka in September, would discuss this issue further.
China also invited a Bangladesh team to identify the possible areas of cooperation in the maritime sector as Bangladesh sought help in the exploration of natural resources under the ocean, deep sea fishing, and establishment of a maritime institute during their meeting with the Deputy Administrator Chen Lianzeng of the State Oceanic Administration.
Both sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultation (FoC) in Dhaka within this year during their meeting with the Chinese foreign minister and emphasised high level bilateral visits at the political, parliamentarian and government level to further consolidate the relations.
They also expressed their satisfactions about the ongoing defence cooperation and the Chinese side expressed their willingness to invite the Chiefs of Armed Forces for visiting China.
The Chinese government also sought Bangladeshs support to achieve the desired goals of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) forum.
Bangladesh assured of full support to promote trade and connectivity.
The Chinese Premier in his recent visit to India signed a joint statement where both sides agreed to consult with Bangladesh and Myanmar with a view to establishing a Joint Study Group to explore the economic advantage of the region.
The Bangladesh delegation will also visit Hubei and Yunnan province, where they would meet with high government officials including Governor of Yunnan.
The delegation is scheduled to return Dhaka on July 1.
source: Easy Chinese visa for Bangladeshis - bdnews24.com
