Staff Correspondent

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said there are huge opportunities left unexplored in Bangladesh’s villages, especially in the field of agriculture and in deep water marine and river fisheries.

During his meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, the Chief Adviser said every village in Bangladesh could be transformed into a production unit with a Chinese touch.

Minister Wentao said his country is ready to extend cooperation with Bangladesh in trade and commerce, with a particular eye on agriculture, jute, marine fisheries and research.

The Chinese minister, who led a large delegation of Chinese businesspeople and industrialists at the China-Bangladesh Conference on Investment and Trade, made the comments when he met the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

“The Chinese companies that have come with me are excited. You expressed the direction of Bangladesh’s future development. The Chinese companies told me that they are now more confident about investing in Bangladesh after your initiatives,” Wentao told the Chief Adviser.

Referring to growing consumerism in Bangladesh, the Chinese minister said he was impressed by the presence of shoppers in Bangladeshi malls even after 10pm and cited statistics that suggested that by 2030, Bangladesh would become the ninth largest consumer market in the world.

“As we discussed, we are eager to know what areas of agriculture we can have full-scale cooperation in,” the Chinese minister said, referring to areas such as farmland development, water conservation and planting technologies.

“As I see it, agriculture is not just an industry but a form of social organisation,” the minister said.

When it comes to fisheries and the marine economy, he mentioned Chinese expertise in the fields and sought specific proposals from Bangladesh.

“China is leading the world in fishing technologies, especially deep water marine fishing,” said the Chinese minister.

He also took note of Professor Yunus’ speech made earlier in the day at the China-Bangladesh Conference on Investment and Trade when the Bangladesh Chief Adviser spoke about the potential of reviving Bangladesh’s jute sector.

He said China imports jute worth $100 million from Bangladesh annually, which is roughly 10 per cent of Bangladesh’s jute exports, and with research and product diversification, this could grow manifold.

He said after the Chief Adviser’s speech at the conference, Chinese jute traders gathered immediately to decide to conduct some research on Bangladesh’s jute products.

“Our cooperation should not be limited to businesses. We should also collaborate on research. If the Bangladesh side joins the research work, I think jute will be a very suitable product for us,” Wentao said.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh’s jute product designers can work together with Chinese experts.

He appreciated the Chinese minister’s gesture and thanked China for being on the side of Bangladesh as a friend.

“Your words are music to my ears,” said the Chief Adviser, also hailing the Chinese minister for bringing so many Chinese investors with him and then making a passionate speech about Bangladesh’s prospects at the China-Bangladesh conference earlier in the day.

“We are absolutely delighted. Your speech (today) was really important. So many investors came. It is a good signal for us, as the whole nation is watching,” he said.

He recalled his recent visit to China when many bilateral issues were discussed, including trade and commerce.

“During our visit, we had a lot of friendly discussions. Your visit will take it forward,” said the Chief Adviser.

Prof Yunus expressed Bangladesh’s willingness to create a favourable environment for Chinese companies to invest and do business in the country.

He voiced hope that China would extend support in developing Bangladesh’s basic industries, particularly agriculture and fisheries, to help improve the livelihoods of its people, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Both sides exchanged views on further deepening practical cooperation between Bangladesh and China.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen also attended the meeting.

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh and China have a profound friendship and China is a trustworthy friend and reliable development partner of Bangladesh.

He thanked China for its long-term support and assistance to Bangladesh's economic and social development, and for arranging a large-scale economic and trade delegation to visit Bangladesh in such a short time after my visit to China and achieving many practical results.

Wentao said China and Bangladesh are good neighbours who help each other and good partners who seek common development.

The leaders of the two countries have drawn up a new blueprint for the development of Bangladesh-China relations.

China is willing to continue to deepen trade and investment cooperation with Bangladesh to achieve common development, said the Chinese side.

China is also willing to follow the important economic and trade consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and strive to promote pragmatic cooperation with Bangladesh in traditional basic industries such as agriculture and fisheries and emerging fields such as new energy and modern logistics, so as to benefit the people of the two countries and promote the deepening and solidification of the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic partnership.