PM's China visit
Monday, 15 March 2010
Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina's five-day official visit to China will commence from Wednesday next. This would be the PM's first visit to that country since taking over charge some thirteen months ago. For obvious reasons, a great deal of expectations are centred on this visit which would be significant for Bangladesh in all respects.
Traditionally, China has been a source of support for Bangladesh in different fields. Some large communication projects such as bridges in Bangladesh were almost entirely funded and provided with technical expertise for their construction by China. Besides this, China is providing notable support to Bangladesh in other fields including, among others, the defence. A large volume of Bangladesh's imports comes from China. Diplomatically, China has stood by Bangladesh's side and its diplomatic persuasion played no small a part in helping Bangladesh to improve relations with Myanmar as Beijing has a great deal of influence on Yangoon.
China is the fastest rising power in the world today. It is already considered as an emerging superpower or the number two country in the economic and military sense after the United States. Thus, it is a matter of some fortune for Bangladesh that it has such a powerful and friendly country as its neighbour. Cementing its friendly and cooperative relations with China can contribute to Bangladesh's security and economic growth and development on a lasting basis. Following the recent visit of the Prime Minister to India, her meetings and discussions with the Chinese leaders at the helm assume an added importance. Bangladesh's avowed policies of seeking friendship with all are well understood and appreciated by all concerned. There should, thus, be no misgivings in any quarters. The PM's visit is likely to open a new vista of cooperation with Beijing. The Prime Minister can seek China's support and cooperation for Bangladesh's endeavours for better geographical connectivity with neighbours. This can lead to greater trade facilitation and economic cooperation that would serve the common interests of all the countries in the region.
Bangladesh has also requested China for building direct road connections with it through Myanmar. Chinese aid for funding major projects, specially infrastructures, would also likely be sought. Further, Beijing may be requested to go on exercising its influence on Myanmar so that Bangladesh can expeditiously settle its disputes with Myanmar, specially the one of demarcation of maritime boundaries. The Chinese side may be sensitised during the visit about the imbalance in Bangladesh's bilateral trade with the former. In this connection, some concessions by China would set the stage for greater export of Bangladeshi goods to China to help narrow this gap. Pledges of Chinese technological assistance for emerging sectors in Bangladesh, specially agriculture-related ones, would also be welcome. Thus, the visit on the whole could prove to be a useful one for both countries and should be also notably helpful for improving inter-state relations in this part of the world.
Traditionally, China has been a source of support for Bangladesh in different fields. Some large communication projects such as bridges in Bangladesh were almost entirely funded and provided with technical expertise for their construction by China. Besides this, China is providing notable support to Bangladesh in other fields including, among others, the defence. A large volume of Bangladesh's imports comes from China. Diplomatically, China has stood by Bangladesh's side and its diplomatic persuasion played no small a part in helping Bangladesh to improve relations with Myanmar as Beijing has a great deal of influence on Yangoon.
China is the fastest rising power in the world today. It is already considered as an emerging superpower or the number two country in the economic and military sense after the United States. Thus, it is a matter of some fortune for Bangladesh that it has such a powerful and friendly country as its neighbour. Cementing its friendly and cooperative relations with China can contribute to Bangladesh's security and economic growth and development on a lasting basis. Following the recent visit of the Prime Minister to India, her meetings and discussions with the Chinese leaders at the helm assume an added importance. Bangladesh's avowed policies of seeking friendship with all are well understood and appreciated by all concerned. There should, thus, be no misgivings in any quarters. The PM's visit is likely to open a new vista of cooperation with Beijing. The Prime Minister can seek China's support and cooperation for Bangladesh's endeavours for better geographical connectivity with neighbours. This can lead to greater trade facilitation and economic cooperation that would serve the common interests of all the countries in the region.
Bangladesh has also requested China for building direct road connections with it through Myanmar. Chinese aid for funding major projects, specially infrastructures, would also likely be sought. Further, Beijing may be requested to go on exercising its influence on Myanmar so that Bangladesh can expeditiously settle its disputes with Myanmar, specially the one of demarcation of maritime boundaries. The Chinese side may be sensitised during the visit about the imbalance in Bangladesh's bilateral trade with the former. In this connection, some concessions by China would set the stage for greater export of Bangladeshi goods to China to help narrow this gap. Pledges of Chinese technological assistance for emerging sectors in Bangladesh, specially agriculture-related ones, would also be welcome. Thus, the visit on the whole could prove to be a useful one for both countries and should be also notably helpful for improving inter-state relations in this part of the world.