Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang has told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina his country wants to be a partner in Bangladesh’s economic development.
Published : 06 Jun 2014, 07:51 PM
Yang met Hasina after the inauguration of the second China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, on Friday.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told reporters after the meeting that the Chinese vice premier lauded Bangladesh’s positive approach towards China.
“He praised our positive role in improving regional communications,” he said.
China is extracting gas from some wells in Myanmar for Yunnan. The prime minister expressed interest to purchase gas or Bangladesh from there.
“The prime minister told the Chinese vice premier Bangladesh wanted to purchase gas for the economic zone that will be built for China in Chittagong,” the secretary said.
“Wang Yang has told the prime minister he will convey her proposal to the central government,” he said.
The vice premier also spoke about transferring some Chinese industries to Bangladesh.
Hasina told Yang Bangladesh believed in the one-China policy.
She praised China’s development and said its neighbours would be greatly benefitted by it.
Hasina expressed her hope that the friendship between the two nations would become stronger in the future.
The prime minister said she expected the Chinese vice premier’s support in expanding the market for Bangladeshi products in China in order to reduce the trade gap.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, among others, were present at the meeting.
A 70-member business delegation is also travelling with the prime minister.
Hasina will meet the Chinese prime minister on the fourth day of the tour.