China keen to help BD in blue economy sector

China Wednesday showed keen interest in cooperating in the maritime and blue economy sector in Bangladesh and proposed to constitute a ‘Working Group’ in the Ministry of Commerce of China to work on the technical areas. Visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng came up with the response when Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali sought Chinese government cooperation in setting up of the first ever ‘Marine Aquarium’ in Bangladesh at the National Oceanographic Research Institute (NORI) in Cox's Bazar. The Foreign Minister also sought assistance for the capacity building of institutions and human resources in maritime and Blue Economy of the Bay of Bengal to make the optimum use of the maritime resources, according to the Foreign Ministry here. The Chinese Commerce Minister also mentioned that a Chinese company, 'China Aquatic Corporation', would look into Bangladesh’s request of setting up of the first-ever marine aquarium in NORI, Cox's Bazar.  During the hour-long talks between the two Ministers at the Foreign Ministry, a host of issues covering the ongoing development activities, Chinese investment in Special Economic Zones and other issues of common concern were discussed, according to a news agency---Aminul.