DHAKA EYES $3B AID FROM BEIJING
Date: February 24, 2010

Date: 24.02.10
Source: The Daily Star

DHAKA EYES $3B AID FROM BEIJING

PM goes to China March 17; connectivity top agenda

Hasan Jahid Tusher

Bangladesh will seek around $3 billion in assistance from China during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's five-day visit beginning on March 17.

Sources at the Prime Minister's Office said that the assistance could be invested in infrastructure development and various power projects.

Sheikh Hasina will also focus on strengthening the bilateral relationship and reducing the existing trade imbalance with the emerging economic and military giant.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics June 2009, a $3.8 billion trade gap existed between China and Bangladesh in the fiscal year 2007-08.

The prime minister will therefore push for greater Chinese investment in Bangladesh as well as stronger regional connectivity.

Sources said Bangladesh will seek assistance in implementing several projects, including the seventh Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, setting up several power plants, constructing Chittagong-Myanmar-Kunming highway and a Bangladesh-China exhibition centre in Dhaka.

The ruling Awami League (AL) anticipates that the visit will provide significant opportunities for diplomacy and China-Bangladesh relations more generally.

"We believe the prime minister's first visit to China during her second term in office will pave the way for new ground in our relationship with China," said AL presidium member Obaidul Quader yesterday.

Quader also believes that a proactive and balanced diplomacy, like that between Washington and New Delhi, could be established by the visit.

In December last year a high-powered delegation led by AL General Secretary and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam visited China and held meetings with top ranking Chinese leaders in a bid to move forward the prime minister's agenda.

The Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Xianyi recently met with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to discuss the proposed visit.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, as well as many top ranking officials and leaders will accompany Sheikh Hasina during the visit.

 




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