Sheikh Hasina holds talk with met Chinese President Hu Jintao

March 19,2010

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought Chinese assistance and cooperation to turn Bangladesh into a modern digital country and face climate change battle. The Prime Minister made the request when she met Chinese President Hu Jintao at Fu Jian Hall of Great Hall in the Chinese capital. The Chinese President also assured Sheikh Hasina of his country's continued cooperation towards achieving socio-economic development of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina at the meeting expressed the hope that comprehensive partnership of cooperation between Bangladesh and China will help Bangladesh achieve its development goals. In this regard, she informed the Chinese President of the agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and China on Thursday. During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina also mentioned Bangladesh's `One-China Policy'. Regarding climate change, the Bangladesh Premier expressed the hope that China will present the problems and calamities being faced by Bangladesh and other countries before the international community.

Chinese Premier assures access of more duty free Bangladesh products to China

 

March 19,2010

 

China will allow duty free access of Bangladeshi products to its markets and increase its supports for the country's efforts to face floods and other natural calamities caused by global warming. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao gave the assurance during official talks with Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina held at East Hall of Great Gall here yesterday afternoon.During the talks that lasted nearly an hour in a cordial atmosphere, the two leaders discussed various issues of bilateral interest as well Chinese support and cooperation for Bangladesh's socio-economic sectors. In the meeting, the Bangladesh Prime Minister also sought short and long term Chinese assistance, grants and approval of State to State loan on ODA basis for implementing seven projects in Bangladesh's agriculture, power and infrastructure sectors. These are grants for construction of Chinese Exhibition Centre with car parking facilities, construction of road and rail infrastructure connecting Chittagong with Kunming through Gundum of Myanmar, construction of 8th Bangladesh-China friendship bridge, Water Purification Project in Pagla, Financial and Technical support for construction of power plant in Bangladesh, strengthening organizational cooperation between China National Hybrid Rice Research Centre and Bangladesh Rice Research Institutes (BRRI) and waiving Chinese loan. Welcoming Sheikh Hasina to the Great Hall, the Chinese Prime Minister lauded her leadership, saying that democracy has been strengthened further in Bangladesh after her assumption of office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. "Stability in socio-economic sectors has been brought back after your assumption as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh," Mr. Jiabao told Sheikh Hasina and expressed the hope that Bangladesh will achieve further progress in this vital sectors in future due to her prudent leadership. Referring to excellent bilateral relations existing between the two countries, the Chinese Premier said the cooperation in the country's socio-economic sectors would be bolstered in the days to come. In reply, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled the visits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1953 and 1957 and said through these visit bilateral links between Bangladesh and China had been established. Sheikh Hasina said China is a trusted friend of Bangladesh and her country attaches highest importance to its relationship with China in the greater interest of the two Asian nations. Mentioning the Chinese support for Bangladesh's development sector, Sheikh Hasina said the Chinese cooperation in the country's infrastructure, trade and business, agriculture, energy and power have been playing an important role in the country's socio-economic development.