Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming
It's high time Bangladesh and China sign FTA with investment deal: Speakers
Bangladesh and China should soon sign a comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to boost especially Dhaka’s exports to hugely potential Chinese market, speakers at a discussion said on Wednesday.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi who attended the virtual discussion as the chief guest said though there has been some progress towards signing an FTA with China, more efforts are needed to conclude the negotiation and materialize the the FTA.
"I believe this will help Bangladesh to face the LDC graduation challenges," he said.
Speaking as special guest Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said it is high time to really consider an FTA combined with an Investment deal between Bangladesh and China.
Read:Bangladesh, Oman keen to expand economic partnership
He pointed out that there is a huge potential for Bangladesh to boost its exports to China.
The discussion titled “Bangladesh-China Economic and Trade Relations in the aftermath of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic” was organized jointly by Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) and Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCCI).
Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Md. Sirazul Islam and Bangladesh Ambassador to China, Mahbub Uz Zaman also joined it as the special guests.
Eminent Trade Economist Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque presented the keynote paper.
The bilateral trade between the two countries heavily favours China.
Out of around $12.09 billion bilateral trade in FY20, Bangladesh's export to China only accounted for $0.60 billion while imports from China totalled a mammoth $11.49 billion.
Minister Tipu said as part of its unilateral market access schemes for LDCs, China has allowed duty-free access to Bangladesh for 97 per cent of its tariff lines which became effective from July 1, 2020.
Read:Pragmatic talks underway over vaccine procurement, coproduction: Ambassador Li
Under this initiative, 8,256 Bangladeshi products enjoy zero tariff facility for exports in this market. "I strongly believe that by fully utilizing this DFQF facility, the trade imbalance can be reduced in a greater extent."
The commerce minister said Bangladesh gives utmost priority to its relations with neighbouring and regional friendly countries like China while the relationship between the two countries has developed robust based on mutual trust and interests.
Ambassador Li said both the entrepreneurs and businesses of China and Bangladesh suffered from the pandemic as the bilateral trade witnessed a fall of 13.6 per cent in 2020 from the last year.
He, however, termed attainment of Bangladesh's 6.1 per cent GDP growth in the outgoing fiscal year as "very encouraging".
The Chinese Ambassador said although there is a huge trade imbalance, but there would be more exports from Bangladesh to China in the coming days.
Li said he was fully confident that under the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, there would be more areas of cooperation in different fields like in 5G communication, high-speed railway as well as the G to G and PPP initiatives would get momentum in the post pandemic era.
BIDA Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam said that the Authority would facilitate and expedite investment from Chinese investors. "We want to see more FDI from China. BIDA is always ready to support Investment promotion and in policy advocacy,"
Read:Big-B Initiative to bring more investment to Bangladesh: Shahriar
He sad it would be a real game changer if Bangladesh could tap the potential Chinese market. "If we can explore even 1% potential of Chinese market, then the exports of Bangladesh to China will total $25 billion."
Ambassador Mahbub Uz Zaman said there is an excellent platform for cooperation between the two countries for further consolidating the bilateral relations.
"Chinese investments to Bangladesh have been playing an important role and have also been contributing towards employment generation" Mahbub said adding that the Chinese investors are looking forward to invest in the special economic zones in Bangladesh.
Dr. Razzaque suggested that Bangladesh increases its RMG exports to China. It can expand cooperation with China in artificial intelligence, robotics, and can set up technological hub with China.
He said that establishing a full-fledged FTA is an option to retain the available market access in China, but it comes with reciprocity.
He said there are estimates to suggest that a comprehensive bilateral FTA would have an overall positive impact on Bangladesh’s exports by 22 per cent of current exports to China.
On the other hand, Chinese exports to Bangladesh could increase by about 16 per cent.
Read:Korea supports strengthening digital investigation capability of Bangladesh Police
Any FTA deal with China should be backed by an investment agreement from which Bangladesh should be able to expand its exports and can keep bilateral trade deficits within reasonable, said Dr Razzaque.
ERF President Sharmeen Rinvy and Joint Secretary General BCCCI, Al Mamun Mridha delivered welcome remarks.
BCCCI President Gazi Golam Murtoza chaired the event while ERF General Secretary, S M Rashidul Islam moderated the function.
Senior Vice President, BCCCI Brig. Gen. Shah Md. Sultan Uddin Iqbal offered the vote of thanks.
Pragmatic talks underway over vaccine procurement, coproduction: Ambassador Li
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Wednesday said a "very pragmatic" discussion is underway on procurement of COVID-19 vaccine doses from China to meet Bangladesh's needs.
He also said there is very "encouraging progress" between the two countries over coproduction of vaccines.
The Ambassador was addressing a virtual discussion on “Bangladesh-China Economic and Trade Relations in the aftermath of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic” jointly organized by Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) and Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCCI).
Read: Relations with China as usual: FM Momen
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi spoke at the event as the chief guest.
Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Md. Sirazul Islam, Bangladesh Ambassador to China Mahbub Uz Zaman, Senior Vice President, BCCCI Brig. Gen. Shah Md. Sultan Uddin Iqbal, Joint Secretary General BCCCI Al Mamun Mridha and ERF President Sharmeen Rinvi and other leaders of FBCCI also spoke.
Eminent Trade Economist Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque presented the keynote paper at the event moderated by ERF General Secretary SM Rashidul Islam.
Bangladesh thanks China; seeks larger amount of vaccine doses
Extending thanks to the Chinese government for providing 5 lakh doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine as a gift, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh wants a larger amount of vaccine doses from China.
"We’re very thankful to them. We’re thankful to China. They’ve been very cooperative to us. We look forward to many more vaccine doses from China," he said.
Dr Momen said China has the capacity and competency to produce vaccines on a large scale and he has no doubt that Bangladesh will get more vaccine doses as China agreed.
Read: 500 thousand doses of China’s gifted vaccine arrive in Bangladesh
The Foreign Minister was addressing the vaccine handover ceremony participated by Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming.
Acknowledging China's vaccine capacity, Dr Momen also shared Bangladesh's interest to go for co-production in Bangladesh.
The vaccine doses, donated by the Chinese government to Bangladesh, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.
Ready to offer more support if Covid situation deteriorates in Bangladesh: China
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said China is ready to help Bangladesh with more medical supplies, including medical oxygen, if the situation gets worse as it is facing the second wave of Covid-19.
“China is ready to offer more, if needed,” he said, recalling how Bangladesh and China helped each other in dealing with the first wave of Covid-19.
Read:Chinese Embassy invites essays from Bangladeshi friends
Ambassador Li said they will do whatever they can during the second wave of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
He said this pandemic unseen in a century is a global challenge, and past experience keeps reminding them that only through cooperation within the international community they can embrace victory.
“Bangladesh has done what it can to fight the pandemic, and it’s my strong conviction that with the joint efforts of the people of Bangladesh and government, and the help of the international community, Bangladesh’s V-Day over Covid-19 will be just around the corner,” said the Chinese Ambassador.
He made the remarks during a virtual programme organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) on Monday. DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event.
The Ambassador said it is believed that the safe and reliable Chinese vaccine will play a positive role in the construction of Bangladesh’s anti-epidemic defence line, help the people of Bangladesh to overcome the epidemic, and continue the friendship story between the two countries.
He said, “The virus respects no boundary, and we’re all in this together. Solidarity and cooperation are our most powerful weapon in this war.”
The envoy said China hopes all parties will take real action, provide more vaccines to developing countries, including Bangladesh, and contribute to the equitable distribution and application of vaccines across the world so that we can defeat the virus at an early date.
Some 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines gifted by the Chinese government to Bangladesh will arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Ambassador Li said it is a concrete step towards honoring President Xi Jinping’s pledge of making Covid-19 vaccines a global public good, a solid action taken by both sides towards building a community with a shared future for mankind, and a powerful measure to implement the consensus reached in the recent virtual meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Covid-19.
Read:5 lakh doses of Chinese vaccine to arrive on May 12: Envoy
This vaccine gift (Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine) is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China National Biotec Group.
The World Health Organization (WHO) listed the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, giving the green light for this vaccine to be rolled out globally. The Sinopharm product is an inactivated vaccine called SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell).
He said its efficacy for symptomatic and hospitalised disease was estimated to be over 79%, all age groups combined and its easy storage requirements make it highly suitable for low-resource settings.
The envoy said it is also the first vaccine that will carry a vaccine vial monitor, a small sticker on the vaccine vials that change color as the vaccine is exposed to heat, letting health workers know whether the vaccine can be safely used.
Last year, at China’s most trying moments, Bangladesh was among the first countries to donate medical supplies to China in a great act of valuable support.
When the epidemic situation in China eased, China supported Bangladesh’s fight against the virus through various means including gifting medical supplies and sending medical experts.
China offered to gift vaccines to Bangladesh in February but the Embassy did not get the EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) from the government of Bangladesh until April 30.
Though facing difficulties of huge domestic demand and a tight supply of international market, China decided to give priority to ensuring that the vaccines arrive in Bangladesh as soon as possible, said the Ambassador.
He said although it was the May Day holiday in China (five days), many Chinese workers worked overtime and sacrificed personal rest time to rush out these vaccines in less than two weeks.
Read:Beijing wants Dhaka not to join Quad
The Ambassador said it is under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and with the great spirit of fighting the pandemic that they are able to conquer the virus.
The year 2021 marks the birth centenary of the CPC which, in the days to come, will continue leading the Chinese people to work relentlessly to fight the pandemic, promote global economic recovery and defend peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom which are shared values of humanity, he said.
Beijing wants Dhaka not to join Quad
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Monday (May 10, 2021) said Bangladesh should not join "Quad", a US-led initiative, and Dhaka’s relations with Beijing will "substantially get damaged" if it joins it.
He termed “Quad” a military alliance aiming against China's resurgence and its relationship with neighbouring countries.
Read:5 lakh doses of Chinese vaccine to arrive on May 12: Envoy
The Ambassador said Quad was a "narrow-purposed" geopolitical clique, and Bangladesh should not join it as it will not derive any benefit from the initiative.
The US, India, Japan and Australia are part of an informal strategic alliance - the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad as it is known.
"History has proved again and again such partnership surely damages our neighbours' own social, economic development and people's wellbeing," Ambassador Li said.
He said obviously it will not be a good idea for Bangladesh to join this small club of four countries because it will substantially damage the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“So, we don’t like to see any form of participation by Bangladesh in this small group of countries,” said the envoy.
The Chinese Ambassador was speaking at a programme with the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) held virtually.
DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the programme.
Read: Decision on China vaccine after consulting advisory body: Health Minister
On April 27, Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe met President Abdul Hamid and the two sides agreed to advance bilateral military cooperation.
To jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the two sides should make joint efforts against powers outside the region, setting up military alliance in South Asia and practising hegemonism, Wei was quoted by Xinhua as saying.
Known as the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue,” representatives for the four-member nations met periodically since its establishment in 2007.
Rohingya, Teesta
The Chinese Ambassador said no one can say that the situation in Myanmar is improving and mentioned that Bangladesh will have to wait to resume the tripartite talks on Rohingya repatriation among Bangladesh, China and Myanmar.
He said China could not contact the Myanmar government on the Rohingya repatriation issue as the situation in Myanmar is not normal now.
Myanmar did not take back a single Rohingya from Bangladesh over the past years.
Read: US may consider taking Rohingyas from Bangladesh: FM
Two repatriation attempts turned futile as Myanmar “failed to remove trust deficit” among the Rohingyas and there was a “lack of conducive environment” in Rakhine for their return.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017. On January 16, 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Bangladesh says the Rohingyas do not trust their government and Bangladesh gave a number of proposals to build trust among them. Myanmar did not say no to those proposals but no proposal was implemented.
Bangladesh is trying in multiple ways -- bilaterally, multilaterally, tri-laterally and through the judicial system – to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Read: Dhaka seeks serious regional, multilateral initiatives over Rohingya repatriation
Responding to another question, Ambassador Li said China will sincerely consider its engagement in the Teesta River management project if the country gets a feasibility study report on this project.
He added that the Bangladesh government should conduct a study on the project first before sending the proposal.
Chinese Defense Minister pays tribute to Bangabandhu
Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi-32 here on Tuesday.
He also signed visitors' book kept at the memorial.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming accompanied the visiting Chinese minister.
The Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe arrived here on Tuesday morning on a brief visit.
State Minister M Shahriar Alam received the Chinese Defense Minister at Bangabandhu Air Base upon his arrival at 10:45 am.
China concerned at delay in repatriation of Rohingyas
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Sunday expressed concern as the repatriation of Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State has not started yet.
Govt to appoint 2000 more physicians to tackle coronavirus situation: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said if the number of Covid-19 patients continues to soar, the government will take steps to appoint additional 2000 physicians to contain the situation.
Presence of Chinese Corona-conquerors will be 'encouraging': FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said the presence of a Chinese medical experts team will act to encourage both doctors and patients in Bangladesh, as the country strives to bring its local epidemic under control amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19: Four Chinese experts to work with IEDCR
A four-member team of Chinese experts having experience in epidemic prevention and control will work closely with Bangladesh to help overcome the challenges of coronavirus.