Diplomatic Correspondent

China and Bangladesh on Thursday agreed to deepen their relationship with full support from Beijing to the interim government led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

"President Xi Jinping attaches tremendous importance to your visit," Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang told Dr Yunus, adding that China hopes Bangladesh would prosper and grow under his leadership.

President Xi and Dr Yunus are scheduled to hold bilateral talks at Great Hall of China in the Chinese capital city on Friday.

The executive vice-premier said his country would fund modernisation efforts of the Mongla Port and the Dasherkandi Sewage project.

The two countries also agreed to boost investment, trade and cultural ties, people to people exchanges as they mark 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relationships.

The Chinese vice-premier met Dr Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in the coastal Chinese town and the two leaders also led a bilateral meeting between the two nations.

During the meeting, the chief adviser reiterated the country's firm commitment to the One-China policy and said Dhaka takes pride in being the first South Asian country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.

Dhaka sought Chinese support in an array of developments and livelihood projects and also called for reduction of interest rates for Chinese loans from 3% to 1-2 % to Bangladesh.

It also sought a waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh.

The chief adviser also sought Beijing's help in facilitating the relocation of the Chinese manufacturing industries, including ready-made garments, electric vehicles, light machinery, high-tech electronics, chip manufacturing and the solar panel industry.

Vice-Premier Ding said Beijing will extend duty-free and quota-free access to Bangladeshi goods to China until 2028 – two years after Dhaka graduates from a Least Developed Country to a middle-income economy. Beijing is also keen to start free trade negotiations with Dhaka, he said.

The vice premier said China last year signed a protocol to import mango from Bangladesh.

Officials said Bangladesh's mango export to China would begin this summer.

Beijing would also import jackfruit and guava and other aquatic products from the country in Its attempt  at minimising huge trade imbalance, he said.

He said the Chinese government and its universities would grant more scholarships to Bangladeshi students.  

Several thousand Bangladeshi students are already studying in Chinese universities.

The vice premier assured Chinese funding for the purchase of four ocean-going vessels for Dhaka's state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.

He said Beijing would foster dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in an effort to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The chief adviser thanked the Chinese leadership for their support, saying Thursday's meeting "marks another milestone in the ever-deepening Bangladesh-China partnership".

"Let us resolve to work together to usher in a new era of friendship, cooperation and collaboration, reinforcing the strategic ties between our two nations," he said.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy, Rail and Road Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative to the Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman and BiDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik were present during the meeting.