Bangladesh needs BCIM: PM

Bangladesh wants early implementation of the BCIM economic corridor, so it can open a new door between China and South Asia, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.

“BCIM was China’s proposal. It will connect Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar, so it’s very important for us,” she said at a discussion in Beijing on Monday.

Hasina reached Beijing on Sunday from Kunming, where the second China-South Asia Expo was inaugurated.

She was addressing the discussion, ‘Socio-Economic Achievements of Bangladesh in Recent Years and Partnership with China’ at China Institute of International Studies on Monday.

She hoped her visit will strengthen ties with the world’s second largest economy.

“Trade and cultural exchange with China will be among our priorities, which in turn will further political and economic relations between the two countries,” she said in reply to a question.

Hasina said the first time she visited China was in 1993 and she remains ‘fascinated’ with the development it has achieved.

“Things here have changed a lot. We have a lot to learn from China. I believe China can be the world’s greatest economy.”

Hasina was elated when a Chinese student, who called himself ‘Akash’, posed a question to her in Bangla.

“Very nice …you just asked a question about cultural exchange in Bangla. We Bengalis will also learn to use Chinese, because learning each others language will strengthen our friendship,” she said.

“It is great that a lot of people in China are learning Bangla,” she said and assured all possible assistance to those who come to Bangladesh to learn the language.