Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said five Chinese companies have invested USD 8 million in the last one month since the interim government assumed its duties.
During a courtesy meeting, Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin thanked China for its recent decision of giving the zero-tariff facility for 100 percent tariff lines of all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including Bangladesh.
Ambassador Yao made his maiden call on the newly appointed Foreign Secretary Jashim at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 12.
He congratulated the Foreign Secretary on his appointment and handed over a letter of the Vice Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidong acknowledging the Foreign Secretary’s past contributions as Ambassador of Bangladesh to China.
Ambassador Yao reiterated China’s commitment of good neighborliness and friendship with Bangladesh.
He stated that the friendship between China and Bangladesh is historically deep and China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas and further advance the ‘comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership’.
Ambassador Yao referred to the trade issues and mentioned China had already completed necessary formalities to import mangoes from Bangladesh next year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Secretary requested the Ambassador to import a few other agricultural items including jackfruit and guava.
He stressed the importance of increasing people-to-people contacts between Bangladesh and China especially in connection with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China.
Ambassador Yao expressed China’s readiness to extend medical treatment to the persons who were injured during the student-led mass upsurge in Bangladesh.
China also wants to provide equipment such as boats, power generators, and life jackets to be used for rescue operations for the flood victims, the Ambassador added. Foreign Secretary Jashim appreciated the Chinese initiatives.
Both sides also discussed preparing a list of functions to be organized in celebration of the 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations in a befitting manner in 2025.
Regional and multilateral issues of common interests and support for each other’s candidatures at the international fora also featured in their discussions. Among others Director General Toufique Hasan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka were present in the meeting.