ZCZC
BSS-37
PM-TALKS LEAD 3 LAST BEIJING
Talking about economy and trade issue, the Chinese prime minister said the
volume of trade between China and Bangladesh witnessed 16 percent growth last
year.
In response, Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for removing the trade
imbalance between the two countries as the trade growth and imbalance are in
favour of China.
“So, China should invest more in Bangladesh, develop factories and
industries with the buy-back guarantee,” she said.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is setting up 100 economic zones, she urged
China to come up with investment in the zones.
In this context, Li Keqiang said they do not want a balance trade relation
and assured to work on reducing the trade imbalance.
Noting that 97 percent Bangladeshi products now enjoy duty free access to
Chinese market, the Chinese premier said they would try to exempt the duty
from the rest three percent of Bangladeshi goods.
China is closely monitoring the outcomes of the FTA feasibility study, he
added. About project implementation issues, Sheikh Hasina said during the
Chinese President’s visit to Bangladesh in 2016, Dhaka signed a number of
agreements and MoUs with Beijing to implement various projects in Bangladesh.
She put emphasis on expediting the implementation process of the projects.
The prime minister requested China to ease the terms and condition of loan
agreements and take necessary measures for timely disbursement of fund for
implementation of the projects.
In this regard, the Chinese PM said China will consider the matter.
The Bangladesh prime minister sought Chinese assistance for implementing
the Delta Plan 2100, setting up a Climate Adaptation Centre and mobilising
resources in implementation of Teesta River Comprehensive Management and
Restoration project.
She also called upon China to expedite the implementation process of Dhaka-
Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar high-speed train communication.
Regarding the visa issue, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh provides
preferential visa to Chinese nationals under the umbrella of “on arrival
visa” arrangements.
But similar treatment is not offered for Bangladeshi nationals travelling
to China.
She hoped that China will ease the visa procedure for Bangladesh passport
holders, students and businessmen in particular.
About BCIM Economic Corridor, the two prime ministers highlighted its
importance and potentials to connect markets of the region and said both
countries agreed for quick implementation of the BCIM corridor.
Bangladesh Ambassador to China Md Fazlul Karim and PM’s Speech Writer Md
Nazrul Islam were present at the briefing. Chairperson of National Advisory
Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders Saima Wazed Hossain,
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, PM’s Private Industry and Investment
Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam
and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Foreign Affairs
Ministry Muhammad Faruk Khan, among others, were on the Bangladesh side
during the bilateral talks between the two prime ministers.
Later, the prime minister joined a banquet hosted by her Chinese
counterpart at the Great Hall of the People.
BSS/SH/ARS/1857 hrs