China interested in building a solar panel factory in Bangladesh

He made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has welcomed the opening of ‘a new chapter’ in Bangladesh’s close relationship with China.

He expressed this hope in a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York on Wednesday, the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing said.

Yunus called for increased technical cooperation between the companies of both the countries.

“We would love to cooperate with Chinese companies. We have many opportunities to work together,” he said.

Various important issues, including bilateral relations, economic and commercial cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

The Chinese foreign minister described Yunus as an "old friend of the Chinese people" and congratulated him on taking leadership of Bangladesh's interim government.

“We have full confidence in you. You will meet people's expectations,” he said.

He added that China would pay attention to the chief advisor’s call for Chinese solar panel manufacturers to establish a plant in Bangladesh, which Yunus had encouraged during a meeting with the Chinese envoy to Dhaka last month.

Wang expressed interest in investing in solar panels in Bangladesh and deepening trade and economic ties with Dhaka.

Beijing will encourage greater cooperation and partnership between companies from the two countries, he said. Bangladesh will also benefit from China's decision to grant zero-tariff access to all products from LDCs.

The foreign minister noted that the Chinese Red Cross had sent a team of doctors to treat seriously injured students and people during the July-August mass uprising.

He added that China would also welcome more students from Bangladesh.

Yunus thanked China for its position.

The chief advisor also praised China's "amazing" efforts to lift millions of people out of poverty.

He said Chinese solar companies could invest more heavily in Bangladesh, which enjoys market access favoured by many wealthy countries and urged other Chinese manufacturers to shift their factories to Bangladesh.