Bangladesh-China Agreed To Raise Partnership To Newer Height

They agreed to sustain momentum of high-level interaction and engagements, institutional cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, people to people exchanges and forge closer cooperation on international affairs and climate change issues.

It was told in the joint statement issued on the following day of the official talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang here on Tuesday.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) released the 20-point document titled-'Joint Statement on Deepening the Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation between Bangladesh and China' today before Sheikh Hasina's departure for home concluding her six-day official visit to China.

Sheikh Hasina paid the visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. During her stay in Beijing, Sheikh Hasina met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Yu Zhengsheng.

The two countries also inked two agreements, two MoUs and two Letters of Exchange (LoE) during her visit to China opening up new horizon to strengthen mutual cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, power generation, communications and transport and combating natural disasters.

"The two sides had in-depth discussions on wide ranging issues of mutual interest, including China-Bangladesh relations and international and regional issues," the joint statement said.

Recalling the traditional friendship and long-standing relations and engagements between Bangladesh and China, the statement said, the two sides reaffirmed their support to each other based on the principles of peace, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual trust and respect as well as equitable sharing of mutual benefits.

Bangladesh has reaffirmed its support to the 'one China policy', the statement said adding that China has expressed its support to the efforts of Bangladesh in upholding national and regional peace, stability and progress.

The statement said, the two sides viewed each other's development as opportunities to further expand and raise the closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation to a newer height, exploring further avenues and opportunities of cooperation.

As the two countries agreed to sustain the momentum of high- level interaction and engagements, they decided to intensify dialogue between government authorities, parliaments, political parties, armed forces, non-governmental platforms groups and local governments.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over regular consultation at secretary level on various bilateral, global, regional and sub-regional issues and agreed to hold next round of consultation in Bangladesh during the second half of 2014.

The joint statement said, Bangladesh and China recognized that economic cooperation and trade constitute an important part in forging closer comprehensive cooperative partnership. So, they agreed to intensify cooperation on trade, investment, finance, agriculture, science-technology-innovation, health, education, transportation and infrastructure development based on equitable mutual benefits.

In view of this, the statement said, Bangladesh and China agreed to take further concrete measures to increase bilateral trade, widen economic cooperation and augment investment flow with a view to reducing huge bilateral trade imbalance.

The joint statement said, the Chinese side encouraged and supported their enterprises to make mutually beneficial investment in Bangladesh. In view of this they proposed for active involvement of leading Chinese enterprises in the development of communications- energy-transportation- infrastructure and industry in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh welcomed the Chinese proposal and appreciated China's long-term support to Bangladesh's economic and social development and agreed to consider the modalities for such cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides agreed that Chinese financial institutions would cooperate in projects with relevant institutions in Bangladesh according to law and regulation. In this context, Bangladesh side proposed five projects for accelerating development, the statement said.

The five projects are- (1) Development of National Infra Network for Bangladesh Government Phase III (Expanding IT connectivity up to Union Level: Info Sarkar Phase 3), (2) Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant Project, (3) Construction of 2nd Railway cum Road Bridge across the River Karnaphuli at Kalurghat point near the existing railway bridge, (4) Construction of new single track dual gauge railway line from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar via Ramu to Gundum near Bangladesh- Myanmar border, and (5) Eastern Refinery Unit-II and single point mooring (SPM) project.

The joint statement said, in the bilateral talks, Bangladesh underlined the need for development of supply chain and related services and industries in Bangladesh and comprehensive development of the manufacturing and services sectors.

Bangladesh welcomed the signing of an MoU on establishment of a Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong by China and expressed full support for Chinese enterprises to construct relevant industrial zone.

Bangladesh and China agreed to continue their efforts for strengthening communication and coordination in regional cooperation. China appreciated Bangladesh's constructive role and its initiatives in deepening regional peace, stability and progress in South Asia, including within the SAARC.

China also welcomed Bangladesh's active participation in China- South Asia EXPOs while Bangladesh appreciated China's continued engagement within the SAARC, the joint statement said.

Bangladesh and China recognized that the development of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM EC) would constitute an important vehicle to complement various regional connectivity initiatives and provide an important avenue for strengthening mutual beneficial cooperation and sustainable development.

The two sides agreed that BCIM EC would attain peace, stability, equitable and sustainable development of the region through unlocking its potentials for development of the region.

China welcomed Bangladesh's convening of the Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group (JSG) of BCIM EC. The two sides agreed to remain actively engaged towards the development of BCIM EC along with other countries and expressed their hope of finalizing mutually beneficial and result-oriented cooperative framework among the four countries.

In the joint statement, the two countries underlined importance on advancing people-to-people contacts to deepen mutual understanding and friendship, and agreed to strengthen people-to-people exchange for deepening civilizational ties.

In this respect both sides agreed to expand exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, science and technology, media, health and further promote interaction between media organizations, think tanks, academia, research community, scholars, friendship associations, women organizations art troupes, sportspersons and sport organizations as well as young people.

With a view to facilitating widening interaction among people, the two sides agreed to simplify visa procedure for businesspersons, scholars researchers, students, artists, and tourists.

The joint statement said, Bangladesh requested China to continue to provide and increase in due course, Chinese government-sponsored scholarships to Bangladeshi nationals, long- term training programmes for civil servants and diplomats in the relevant Chinese institutions and universities to help the country develop a pool of technical professionals needed for her nation-building programmes.

In response, the statement said, China agreed to the proposal and assured facilitating more Bangladeshi students studying at all level in China through other programmes and channels.

Both the countries also agreed to strengthen exchange and cooperation in teaching of Chinese language and culture and also development of human resources.

The two countries expressed satisfaction at the existing level of cooperation between Bangladesh and China on defense matters and agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in this area.

The two sides, agreed on undertaking practical initiatives towards protection, promotion and development of marine resources and marine sectors, in accordance with international law through maritime specific survey and research and addressing extreme climate and observing changes like ocean acidification.

They also agreed to deepen cooperation on creating sustainable employment for the people from perspectives of ocean- based economy and work for sustainable fisheries and exploration and development of marine resources, renewable energy, shipping and eco-tourism.

The two sides also recognized the importance of development of "Blue Economy" and development of related capacity in Bangladesh.

The joint statement said, Bangladesh and China also agreed to forge closer cooperation in international affairs in multilateral forum including the UN and recognized similarity of perspectives on a number of aspects on ongoing global discourse related to climate change, Post-2015 Development Agenda, energy resources, natural disasters and food security and maintain close coordination and cooperation in this regard.

China recognized the importance of Bangladesh to strengthen its capacity to address the challenges related to climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Bangladesh expressed its appreciation for China's support in this area and underlined the need for development and transfer of relevant technologies.

China agreed to enhance its support to Bangladesh in addressing climate change challenges as well further strengthen cooperation on managing natural disasters. Both sides agreed to develop a framework of cooperation related to urban disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation between the two countries.

Bangladesh and China would celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015 in a befitting manner by jointly organizing various programmes throughout the year, the joint statement said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)