Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her recent visit to China will help build closer ties with that country.
Published : 14 Jun 2014, 09:16 PM
“The bilateral relation with China, including trade and investment, technology and scientific avenues as well as cooperation and partnership will improve after my visit to China,” she told a media briefing at Ganabhaban on Saturday.
Bangladesh has signed two deals with China during Hasina’s visit apart from two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and two exchanges of notes.
“The Chinese President hopes that the relation will continue to grow and will gradually reach its peak,” the prime minister said in her speech.
“Discussions have been held to upgrade the existing economic partnership to a strategic partnership based on mutual trust, equality and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs,” Hasina said.
She said the Chinese President raised the issue of trade deficit between the two countries and expressed concerns over the matter.
“He assured that the Chinese government would take every possible measure to resolve the issue,” the prime minister added.
Hasina said one of the key successes of her visit was that China had agreed to double its annual project assistance from the existing $250 million.
“It was clear from the meetings with top Chinese leaders that they saw Bangladesh as an important part of their foreign policy. This visit was important to create strategic partnership between Bangladesh and China,” Hasina told the media.