Sunday, October 21, 2012Front Page
2nd Padma Bridge
Khaleda seeks China's help
Goes to India Oct 28
Khaleda seeks China's help
Staff Correspondent
Top Chinese leaders assured BNP chief Khaleda Zia of extending to Bangladesh the cooperation in building the second Padma bridge and a deep seaport.
The assurance was given during BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's weeklong visit to China. She came home yesterday.
Addressing a press conference arranged on the outcome of Khaleda's visit to China, BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said China had told his party chief that it would continue to assist Bangladesh in its socio-economic development.
He said Khaleda had meetings with Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chen Fengxiang.
She sought Chinese support in building the bridge, the seaport and various other development programmes in Bangladesh.
Mosharraf said Khaleda also requested the Chinese leadership for establishing direct road and rail links between Chittagong and Kunming to further cement bilateral ties, enhance trade and commerce as well as increase people-to-people contact.
China assured her of looking into it with due importance, he added.
Issues like Chinese assistance in socio-economic development of Bangladesh and various other projects also figured prominently during the talks with the Chinese leadership, the BNP leader claimed.
He said BNP and Communist Party of China agreed on enhanced contact and cooperation between the two friendly parties and laid emphasis on exchange of visits of leaders of different levels.
BNP standing committee member and former army chief Mahbubur Rahman said China showed interest in assisting Bangladesh to modernise its armed forces.
At the press conference, BNP chairperson's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan said Khaleda would leave for New Delhi on October 28 for a week-long visit to India at the invitation of the Indian government.
He told reporters that during the visit, the former prime minister was expected to call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
She would also pay a visit to Ajmer Sharif, he added.
BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Sabihuddin Ahmed and Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas were present at the press conference.