China, Bangladesh agree to deepen ties

China and Bangladesh on Thursday agreed to deepen their relationships during Chief Adviser Prof Yunus' first visit to the Asian superpower, with Beijing saying it would extend full support to the Bangladesh interim government.

The two countries have also agreed to boost investment, trade and cultural ties, people to people exchanges as they mark 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relationships. 

Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in the coastal Chinese town of Boao on Thursday, and the two leaders also led a bilateral meeting.

"President Xi Jinping attaches tremendous importance to your visit [Yunus' first visit to China as chief adviser]," Vice-Premier Ding said, adding that China hopes Bangladesh would prosper and grow under the leadership of Professor Yunus. 

During the meeting, the Bangladesh Chief Adviser reiterated the country's firm commitment to the One-China policy and said Dhaka takes pride in being the first South Asian country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Dhaka sought Chinese support in an array of developments and livelihood projects, and also called for reduduction of interest rates for Chinese loans to Bangladesh from 3% to 1-2 %. The Bangladesh delegation also sought a waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser also sought Beijing's help in facilitating the relocation to Bangladesh of Chinese manufacturing units involved with ready-made garments, electric vehicles, light machinery, high-tech electronics, chip manufacturing and the solar panel industry.

Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said Beijing will extend duty-free and quota-free access to Bangladeshi goods to China until 2028 – two years after Dhaka graduates from a Least Developed Country to a middle-income economy. Beijing is also keen to start free trade negotiations with Dhaka, he said.

The Executive Vice-Premier said his country would fund modernisation efforts of the Mongla Port and the Dasherkandi Sewage project.

The Vice Premier said China last year signed a protocol to import mango from Bangladesh. Officials said Bangladesh's mango export to China would begin this summer. Beijing would also import jackfruit, guava and aquatic products from Bangladesh as part of Its attempts to minimise huge trade imbalance, he said.

He said the Chinese government and its universities would grant more scholarships to Bangladeshi students. Several thousand Bangladeshi students are already studying in Chinese universities.

The Vice Premier assured Chinese funding for the purchase of four ocean-going vessels for Dhaka's state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation. 

He said Beijing would foster dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in an effort to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The Chief Adviser thanked the Chinese leadership for their support, saying Thursday's meeting "marks another milestone in the ever-deepening Bangladesh-China partnership".

"Let us resolve to work together to usher in a new era of friendship, cooperation and collaboration, reinforcing the strategic ties between our two nations," he said.

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, Energy and Road Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative of the Chief Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and BIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury were present during the meeting.