Beijing urged to reduce bilateral trade gap
Friday, 28 September 2007
Beijing has been urged to take initiatives to reduce bilateral trade gap offering more facilities to Bangladeshi products there.
President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed made the appeal while a 14-member Chinese parliamentary delegation called on him at the Bangabhaban in the city Thursday, reports BSS.
"The President stressed the need for enhancing the bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries and urged the Chinese government for taking initiatives in narrowing-down the trade gap which is heavily tilted in favour of China," said a Bangabhaban statement.
The President thanked the Chinese government for granting duty-free access to 84 products from Bangladesh under Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) and urged to provide more facilities to Bangladesh under the provision of the agreement.
President Iajuddin Ahmed also suggested joint efforts to materialise the Kunming initiatives for construction of the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar-China road link to boost economic and tourism facilities among the connecting countries.
Senior-most Vice-President of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Zhongyu led the delegation.
The delegation included the CPPCC Henan Provincial Committee Chairman Wang Quanshu, CPPCC National Committee Deputy Secretary General Sun Huaishan, CPPCC National Committee Foreign Affairs Bureau Deputy Director General Xie-Bohua and division director of Ministry of Public Security Li Shuqi.
The President apprised the delegation that as a friendly and neighbouring country Bangladesh believed in "One China Policy" as it attached great importance to its bilateral relations with Beijing.
The Dhaka-Beijing ties remained to be excellent for the past 30 years and it is expected to be further strengthened and deepened in the days to come, the President added.
The President said that six Friendship Bridges in different parts of the country and the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka bear the hallmark of mutual goodwill and understanding between the two countries.
The delegation told the President that Bangladesh was a trusted friend of China and thanked Dhaka for providing support to China on various issues in the international arena.
The delegation assured the President of reducing trade gap between the two countries while Wang Zhongyu promised to pursue the matter at the commerce ministry of China.
They also told the President that Beijing was eager to extend its support in the fields of education and family planning and expressed their keen interest to cooperate for the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar-China road link.
Among others, Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian, Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohammad Aminul Karim, Secretary Mohammad Sirajul Islam and Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present on the occasion.
President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed made the appeal while a 14-member Chinese parliamentary delegation called on him at the Bangabhaban in the city Thursday, reports BSS.
"The President stressed the need for enhancing the bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries and urged the Chinese government for taking initiatives in narrowing-down the trade gap which is heavily tilted in favour of China," said a Bangabhaban statement.
The President thanked the Chinese government for granting duty-free access to 84 products from Bangladesh under Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) and urged to provide more facilities to Bangladesh under the provision of the agreement.
President Iajuddin Ahmed also suggested joint efforts to materialise the Kunming initiatives for construction of the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar-China road link to boost economic and tourism facilities among the connecting countries.
Senior-most Vice-President of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Zhongyu led the delegation.
The delegation included the CPPCC Henan Provincial Committee Chairman Wang Quanshu, CPPCC National Committee Deputy Secretary General Sun Huaishan, CPPCC National Committee Foreign Affairs Bureau Deputy Director General Xie-Bohua and division director of Ministry of Public Security Li Shuqi.
The President apprised the delegation that as a friendly and neighbouring country Bangladesh believed in "One China Policy" as it attached great importance to its bilateral relations with Beijing.
The Dhaka-Beijing ties remained to be excellent for the past 30 years and it is expected to be further strengthened and deepened in the days to come, the President added.
The President said that six Friendship Bridges in different parts of the country and the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka bear the hallmark of mutual goodwill and understanding between the two countries.
The delegation told the President that Bangladesh was a trusted friend of China and thanked Dhaka for providing support to China on various issues in the international arena.
The delegation assured the President of reducing trade gap between the two countries while Wang Zhongyu promised to pursue the matter at the commerce ministry of China.
They also told the President that Beijing was eager to extend its support in the fields of education and family planning and expressed their keen interest to cooperate for the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar-China road link.
Among others, Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian, Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohammad Aminul Karim, Secretary Mohammad Sirajul Islam and Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present on the occasion.