China keen on road, rail links
August 30, 2010
China is keen to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh on road and rail communications between the two countries.
Visiting Governor of Yunnan province Qin Guangrong expressed his government’s desire when he called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the PM’s Office yesterday morning.
PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting.
The governor arrived here on a two-day official visit at the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s invitation extended during her visit to Kunming, capital of Yunnan, in March this year.
About the tri-nation 111Km-long highway connecting Bangladesh-Myanmar-China, Qin said the Chinese government will extend all necessary cooperation to establish the highway.
In reply, the premier said the proposed highway connecting Chittagong-Myanmar-Kunming would play a vital role in increasing bilateral trade and commerce.
“Bangladesh looks forward to establishing direct road and rail links with China via Myanmar,” Hasina said.
The PM also told the governor that her government decided in principle to open consular office in Kunming.
The premier sought cooperation in the fields of agriculture, education, civil aviation, tourism, power and energy between Bangladesh and China as well as Yunnan province.
She also sought Chinese cooperation in introducing high-yielding varieties of rice in Bangladesh.
Hasina thanked the Chinese authorities for existing air link between the two countries via Kunming that made Kunming-Dhaka trip easier and comfortable.
The PM reiterated Bangladesh’s One China Policy saying that Bangladesh believes in friendly relations with all her neighbouring countries as its foreign policy is “Friendship to all, malice to none.”
Hasina recalled her visit to China last March and expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for receiving her and the members of her entourage with warm hospitality in Kunming.
About the potentials of trade and commerce, the premier said Yunnan is a very rich province of China in terms of agriculture, tourism and mineral resources.
She said Yunnan is also strategically very important as it connects China with the South Eastern and South Asian countries. “I hope regional cooperation will be enhanced through connectivity for mutual benefit of the peoples of this vast region,” she said.
In reply, the governor thanked the PM and the people of this country for showing great hospitality to him and his delegation members since they arrived here.
Qin said the PM’s visit to China last March has strengthened bilateral relation between Dhaka and Beijing to great extent.
He observed that after the PM’s visit to Kunming, trade and commerce between Bangladesh and the province has increased significantly.
Now various quality Bangladeshi goods are available in the markets of Kunming, he said.
Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Principal Secretary to PM MA Karim, PM’s Office Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zhang Xianyi were present.
Source: thedailystar.net
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