Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Li Jun Monday said China is considering to provide duty-free access to 17 more Bangladeshi products in a bid to strengthen business cooperation between the two nations.
He was speaking at a seminar, organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at a city hotel, on the upcoming 2nd China-South Asia Exposition and 22nd China Kunming Import and Export Fair from June 6 to June 10, 2014.
A Chinese delegation comprising government officials and businessmen also took part at the seminar.
Following a request from the Bangladesh side, China has announced its decision, said the Ambassador.
The 17 products, which have been given duty-free access, include polymers, gloves, silk and silk waste, wiping cloth, leather footwear outer soles, lead acid batteries and synthetic fibre.
Bangladesh is now getting duty-free access of 4,888 products to the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed at the seminar sought duty-free access of all Bangladeshi products to China.
Li Jiheng, visiting Governor of Yunnan Province, Shubhashish Bose, Vice-Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Mao Wenguo, Secretary General of Yunnan Provincial government, Xiong Qinghua, Director General, the Department of Commerce, Yunnan Province, Md. Helal Uddin, FBCCI Vice-President, FBCCI Direc-tors, members of the Chinese business delegation and Bangladeshi business leaders from different chambers and associations were present at the seminar.
Chinese Ambassador Jun also requested the FBCCI leaders to participate at the upcoming 2nd China-South Asia Exposition and 22nd China Kunming Import and Export Fair.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman Shubhashish Bose requested the Chinese delegation to invest in Bangladesh specially for infrastructure development, hi-fashion readymade garments, leather products and light engineering sectors.
Mr Akram Uddin also requested the Chinese investors to set up a Chinese Export Processing Zone like the Korean Export Processing Zone in Bangladesh.
The FBCCI President called for working together so that Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and China (BCIM) Business Council can be an effective platform for regional development.
He also requested the China Council for Promotion of International Trade to send a high-powered business delegation to Bangladesh during the BCIM Business Council meeting to be held in June 2014 in Dhaka.
Terming the exposition and fair as an effective platform for economic, social and cultural integration, Mr Li Jiheng requested the Bangladeshi businessmen and exhibitors to participate in the upcoming exposition in China.
