China’s friendship crucial for economic recovery: Zahir Uddin Swapon

Enhancing strategic and economic cooperation with China is one of the main priorities of the country for economic revival and rapid development, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser (ministerial level) Zahir Uddin Swapon MP said today.

He said the remark while addressing a reception event organized at a Dhaka hotel on Sunday (27 September) in honor of a Chinese delegations’ visit to the country.

The Chinese delegation led by Comrade Zhao Junmin – member of Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial CPC Committee – also comprised Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu MP, MP Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen.

“We are immensely proud of the journey of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relation beginning from its birth under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in 1976, and further accelerated growth in the period of Begum Khaleda Zia, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and currently Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” said Zahir Uddin Swapon.

“With Bangladesh’s youthful population, and China’s manufacturing and technological capabilities, we can rapidly revive our economy,” he added.

While emphasizing the need to promote trade, he said, “Bangladesh’s import bill is over $22 billion from China every year, while its exports to China remain below $1 billion, which requires us to take effective measures to tackle the deficit.”

Mentioning the support extended by the Chinese Government, he said, “The Chinese Government has taken the initiative to provide almost 100 percent tariff concessions on Bangladesh’s imports.

In addition, a free display center and 2, 000 square kilometers warehouse space have been allocated in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, while a new economic corridor linking Kunming to Chattogram Port via Myanmar will be launched, which will add a new dimension to Bangladesh-China economic ties.”

Welcoming the diplomatic efforts made by Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen due to leave for China on October 3, Zahir Uddin Swapan hoped for expanding Bangladesh-China trade and economic cooperation.

Both the Chinese delegation members and the leaders of various political parties present at the function.