ZCZC
BSS-29
CORONAVIRUS-IMPACT-CHINESE ENVOY
Coronavirus won’t impact Chinese projects here: Envoy
DHAKA, March 4, 2020 (BSS) – Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Ji Liming today ruled out the possibility of any significant impact on ongoing China-supported mega development projects in Bangladesh due to outbreak of novel coronavirus.
“We believe that China’s large-scale production and operation activities in Bangladesh will not undergo a significant adverse impact due to the outbreak,” he said.
The Chinese Ambassador said these at a gathering at the main camp of the First Division of CREC Project Management Office of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project here, to give a detached assessment of the effect of COVID-19 epidemic.
The envoy hoped that the Bangladesh and China continue to work together to effective measures to remain work resumption of China-supported construction projects.
Liming said his country will work hand in hand with the government of Bangladesh and all sectors of Bangladesh society to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19.
“It could be said that if China encounters difficulties in economic development, it will directly affect the economic growth of Bangladesh,” he added.
“However, we must see that Bangladesh made the choice to carry out economic and trade cooperation with China,” the envoy said.
He hoped China will always be the most reliable trading partner of Bangladesh and a firm builder and implementer of major infrastructure projects for “Belt and Road” connectivity. Looking ahead, Liming said, the industrial chain and supply chain of China-Bangladesh cooperation will only strengthen not weaken it.
He said during the traditional Chinese Spring Festival, thousands of Chinese employees here did not choose to return to China and reunite with their families, but continued to engage in the construction and production in Bangladesh.
Therefore, many major projects are still under regular construction without being suspended, the envoy added.
The envoy said, so far, the risk of COVID-19 has been raised to very high at a global level by WHO and a series of effective measures have been adopted since the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic in China.
“The people of Bangladesh have been firmly standing by the Chinese people since the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic”, Liming said.
He mentioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a letter of condolence to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh donated various kinds of medical and health supplies to the Chinese people.
These measures deeply touched the Chinese side and reflected the long-term and profound friendship between Chinese and Bangladeshi people, he added.
BSS/MMH/TA/KU/1855 HRS