Editorial
China visit
Scene set for greater understanding
REFLECTING substantive nature of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's five-day official visit to China, on its very second day, following her meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, three accords and one MoU were signed on Thursday between China and Bangladesh.
After our PM's India visit, her visit to China will be watched with interest by international and regional observers. Surely a measure of maturity has been shown by AL-led grand alliance in the conduct of its foreign policy as reflected by our highest level contacts with both New Delhi and Beijing.
Speaking of the three accords signed with Beijing, these relate to economic and technical cooperation with adequate grant, framework for construction of Shahjalal fertiliser factory and construction of the seventh Bangladesh-China friendship bridge. The memorandum of understanding on cooperation in oil and gas sector welcome as it is for the prospect it holds out for Chinese assistance in a field of vital interest to us, their expertise in power and bio-gas generation would be equally coveted.
Further to the agreements, Chinese prime minister held out some assurances of significant import: first, China will allow duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to the Chinese market. Under the Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Agreement, 2010 Bangladesh will get duty-free access of its products from July 1with Chinese mission on purchasing affairs making frequent visits to Bangladesh being on the card. Given China's vast market, we should embark on greater export diversification so as to cater to varied Chinese demands after due assessments. China may be persuaded to invest in Bangladesh in manufacturing products with buy-back arrangements.
The second assurance has to do with extending Chinese support for the country's efforts to mitigate the severe effects of climate change in the shape of floods and other natural calamities. In river training and dredging China has enormous reservoir of know-how which we can share in terms of flood control.
Our PM's stress on regional and sub-regional connectivity awaits reciprocation from Chinese leadership which hopefully would materialise soon.
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