PM Seeks More Chinese Support For Major Priority Projects

The Prime Minister made the request during a meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong at her Ganobhaban residence here this evening.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri said the Prime Minister underscored the need for people to people contact to boost cultural and economic ties.

She also stressed the need for strengthening relationship between Chinese Communist Party and Bangladesh Awami League.

The Prime Minister extended an invitation to her Chinese counterpart and conveyed the invitation to the Chinese President to visit Bangladesh at their convenient.

The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh has already allotted some 774 acres of land at Anwara in Chittagong for the proposed China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ). Another 504 acres of land has been allocated to another Chinese private company to set up another economic zone also in Anwara, she said.

The Chinese Vice Premier said that China has offered to set up key laboratories in Bangladesh as well as conduct joint researches in the agricultural sector and is inviting young scientists from Bangladesh to China for imparting training.

Liu Yandong said that she is very much hopeful that Bangladesh would become a middle-income country by 2021, the year the country would be observing its golden jubilee of independence. In this connection, she asserted that China is ready to provide all assistance and support to achieve the goal.

She said that Sheikh Hasina is well known in China as a three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh and also the lone female Prime Minister of South Asia.

The Chinese Vice Premier also noted that the foundation of the two countries was laid following the visits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1952 and 1957.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong praised the socio-economic progress of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hoping that the growth rate would remain continued in future.

She said Bangladesh and China will celebrate 40 years of their diplomatic relations this year and the event will elevate the ties between the two countries to a new height.

Chinese Vice Premier said the relocation of Chinese labour intensive manufacturing industries to Bangladesh would create employment, enhance export from Bangladesh to China reducing the huge trade gap between the two countries.

She said Chinese government has already increased the number of scholarship for Bangladeshi students.

The Chinese Vice Premier conveyed the invitation of Chinese Premier to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit China at her convenience. Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali, PM's Advisor of International Affairs Dr Ghohar Rizvi, Chinese Education Minister Yuan Guiren, vice minister Tong Gang, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad and Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque were present during the meeting.