China urged to allow duty free market access of all products

Bangladesh urged China Sunday to allow duty free market access of all its products for narrowing the trade gap between the two countries.  
"We requested China to provide duty free market access of all our products to their market," commerce minister Tofail Ahmed told the media after meeting with the visiting Yunnan province Governor Li Jiheng at the ministry of commerce on the day.
At present 4788 Bangladeshi products are getting duty free benefit in the Chinese market.
China is the largest import source for Bangladesh. Bangladesh imported goods from China worth US$6.32 billion and exported $458.12 million during the fiscal year (FY) 2012-13.
The commerce minister said the Governor of Yunan showed interest to provide Chinese financial assistance for establishing garment village at Bausia in Munshiganj and building a permanent structure for Dhaka International Trade Fair.
The government estimated the cost for building the garment village at Bausia at Tk8 billion.  
He said the Yunnan Governor also assured to provide a piece of land in Kunming for building a permanent structure to showcase Bangladeshi products throughout the year.
Asked about Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM)-Economic Corridor, Mr Ahmed said they discussed the issue and there has been much progress on it.
The Yunnan Governor said, "We discussed many issues including trade and investment. We invited Bangladesh Prime Minister and Commerce Minister to attend in the second China-South Asia Exposition (CSA Expo) to be held in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province of China in June this year."
The ministry of commerce of the People's Republic of China and the People's Government of Yunnan province will jointly organise the exposition from June 6-10, 2014.   
The expo, which will be held side by side with the 22nd China Kunming Import and Export Fair (Kunming Fair).
Mr Jiheng will have a meeting today (Monday) with the local entrepreneurs aiming to bolster cooperation between the two countries. He will invite Bangladeshi businessmen to participate in the upcoming Kunming fair.   
Bangladesh will have unique opportunities to showcase exportable products like knit and woven garments, home textile, handicrafts, agro-processed foods, cottage products, leather and leather products, imitation jewellery and jute goods in the upcoming Kunming fair, according to business circles.
Diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China was established in 1975.
The Governor, who leads a six-member delegation, arrived in the capital Saturday on a three-day official visit to discuss bilateral cooperation on trade and investment and establishment of the proposed BCIM-Economic Corridor.
Senior secretary of the ministry of commerce Mahbub Ahmed, Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Li Jun and other high officials of Yunan province, among others, were present.