China responds positively on building deep seaport, road-rail links: Dipu

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Railways Minister Suranjit Sen Gupta seen at a seminar organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) in the city Thursday. DCCI President Asif Ibrahim was also present at the seminar.

China gave very positive and encouraging response to Bangladesh's proposals on building a deep seaport and the Kunming-Chittagong road and rail links through Myanmar, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said Monday, reports UNB.
"We've received extremely positive and encouraging response from both the central government and the provincial government of Yunan. They want to assist us," she told a crowded news conference a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's five-day state visit to China.
Replying to a question, the foreign minister said since the planned deep seaport in Chittagong would require huge investment, assistance from more than one country, including China, will be needed.
She said if the deep seaport is built, China will also get benefit out of it and the cost of Chinese products would be less because of closing the distance.
Terming the prime minister's visit as effective and productive, Dipu Moni said China being a permanent member of the UN Security Council is a very powerful state in the world and has emerged as an economic super power. China has also political clout in Asia.
She said the two sides decided to establish a "Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation" between the two countries from the strategic perspective.
"It was a timely, important and significant visit," she said, adding that China also wants Bangladesh as an important partner.
The three agreements and one MoU signed during the visit would open up a new chapter in Sino-Bangladesh cooperation, she said.
The accords are: Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement with Adequate Grant, Framework Agreement for Construction of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory, Agreement for Construction of the 7th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, and MoU on Bangladesh-China Cooperation in Oil and Gas sectors.
China also decided to write off all loans given to Bangladesh till 2008. On removing the trade gap, the Foreign Minister said the matter was discussed during the official meeting when the Chinese side expressed willingness to provide duty-free access to more Bangladeshi products and increase the volume of import from Bangladesh.
She, however, noted that Chinese investment and relocation of its labor-intensive industries in Bangladesh would help reduce the trade gap. Moreover, Bangladesh also needs to expand its export basket, she said.
On the management of Brahmaputra River that has originated in China, Dipu Moni said Bangladesh wants joint management of this river, which has been appreciated by the Chinese side.