On July 18, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, H. E. Mr. Zheng Qingdian paid a visit to Hon'ble Adviser of Finance of the caretaker government, Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam and the two exchanged views on trade cooperation between China and Bangladesh.

                                  

    Ambassador Zheng expressed that China and Bangladesh enjoy a profound friendship in history. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 32 years ago, the two countries have carried out fruitful cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and culture. Sino-Bengladesh relationship develops steadily and becomes increasingly mature. Trade cooperation is an important part of the bilateral relation. In recent years, the bilateral trade and cooperation have increased dramatically with satisfactory results. The two countries should seize the opportunity and take advantage of the economic complementarities to explore new thoughts, new fields and new ways to expand the bilateral trade and cooperation.

                               

    Ambassador Zheng expressed the standpoint and suggestions of Chinese side relating to promoting bilateral trade, investment and project contract. And Chinese government and enterprises regard Bangladesh as an important country for oversees investment. The Chinese side has been supporting more enterprises investing and developing in Bangladesh, and hoping that Bangladeshi side can offer necessary favorable policies and convenience. Ambassador Zheng passed the message to Hon'ble Adviser that some Chinese companies are interested in participating in the construction of some big projects such as Padma Bridge based on BOT, the highway of Dhaka-Chittagong and expected attention and support from Bangladeshi side.

    Hon'ble Adviser, Dr. Islam stated that China and Bangladesh are not only friendly neighboring countries but also close partners in cooperation. The Bangladeshi side thanks China for its years of sincere help in developing Bangladeshi economy, and appreciates the reputation and achievement made by the Chinese enterprises in Bangladesh. Dr. Islam briefed Ambassador Zheng the current economic situation and governmental economic policies and pointed it out that there is a great scope of potentiality of cooperation between the two countries. There are remarkable investment prospects in the fields such as garment manufacturing, printing and dyeing, textile, medicine, light industry, electronic products manufacturing and offshore gas field exploration. The Bangladeshi side sincerely welcomes Chinese enterprises investing and developing in Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi government is ready to offer all necessary favorable conditions and convenience. Dr. Islam welcomes Chinese enterprises participating in Bangladeshi big construction projects and attaches great importance to the cooperation suggestions made by the Chinese enterprises, and promised to strengthen contact and communication on both government and enterprise level, to raise all-round cooperation between the two countries to a new stage.