Ambassador says Bangladesh matters to China

China wants to contribute to Bangladesh’s development, ambassador of the world’s second largest economy, Li Jun, has said.

Meeting diplomatic correspondents in Dhaka on Thursday, he said Bangladesh “really matters” to China, as it is an important developing country with a booming economy, and also for its contribution to global peace and regional stability.

He said Bangladesh’s “improving” ties with its neighbours added to regional stability and its zero-tolerance of terrorism acted as a “firewall” against the spread of terror.

“Like many other countries, especially the neighbouring nations, China undoubtedly benefits from Bangladesh’s efforts (against terrorism)”.

The envoy spoke of China’s third version of reforms, its current relations with Bangladesh, and bilateral cooperation at the press meet organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).

Ambassador Li said the current world order did not suit developing countries, and “a politically stable and an economically prosperous Bangladesh can play a role conducive to world peace and the establishment of a more just and fair international order”.

Unlike Western countries, he said, China would be “non-interfering in internal affairs” of Bangladesh.

“We still believe a peaceful dialogue between the two major parties can solve Bangladesh’s political impasse,” he said in an obvious reference to the eruption of violence ahead of Jan 5 elections that opposition forces, led by the BNP, had boycotted.

China backed the new government formed after the Jan 5 polls when Western powers, particularly the US, called for fresh elections, as soon as possible, based on an agreement on the nature of the poll-time government.

Bangladeshis know “much better” than outsiders what to do, Li said, replying to a question. He added that China had found that the elections had taken place in keeping with the country's constitution and that “rule of law” was fundamental in international relations.

The envoy said China’s third version of reforms included over 300 measures for 55 tasks in 15 sectors.

He said they had set an import target of $ 10 trillion and outbound investment of $ 500 billion for the next five years.

Bangladesh “deserves to have a proper share” of this development, Li said, adding and that the engagement of the two countries at the bilateral and regional levels would drive their cooperation “to an ever-growing new height”.

At the bilateral level, he said, Chinese investments and cooperation in infrastructure construction would see a surge.

China was in the process of restructuring its economy and labour-intensive industries would be relocated, he said. “I think Bangladesh is their best destination, as it has a massive good quality labour force and investment-friendly policy”.

Li said the trend would accelerate but felt “for easy access to investors, an exclusive EPZ for China is needed”.

He also proposed free-trade agreement between the two countries, adding that China was the world's “most experienced country” in matters of infrastructure development.

The proposal of a regional economic corridor among Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar, according to him, had found a firm footing at the first official-level joint working group meeting in Kunming last Dec. The next meeting, due in June, will be held in Chittagong.

The meeting agreed on transportation, infrastructure, investment, commerce and trade, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and other aspects.

The envoy said Bangladesh and China would have “great opportunities of co-operation, especially in building the Sonadia deep sea port, power plant construction and river tunnel”.

Bangladesh, he said, could serve as a hub to facilitate this connectivity.

He said the Sino-Bangla relations got a boost in recent years with high-level exchanges.

People-to-people exchanges had crossed 70,000 a year, and, in economic field, the bilateral trade volume had touched $ 10.3 billion last year, heavily China's favour.

“We should take some concrete efforts to reduce the gap,” he said, urging Bangladeshi businesses to make “full use” of duty-free privileges offered by the Chinese market.

He also suggested Bangladesh should try to attract more Chinese investors. “It will create jobs and Chinese investors know what Chinese buyers need. They will help to balance the trade”.

He said they had received 14 projects proposals worth $ 8.6billion from Bangladesh for soft Chinese loan. “We are working on that”.

He, however, said China-Bangladesh relationship would not be “at the cost of Bangladesh-India relations”.

“China and India can cooperate for Bangladesh’s development and regional cooperation,” he said and “we (China and India) maintain close cooperation”.

He said China-India bilateral trade reached $ 80 billion and was increasing.

“We (India-China) are negotiating for EPZs in India for Chinese companies. They want to attract more investments."

No country could go it alone in these times of globalisation, Ambassador Li observed.