China assures preferential treatment to Bangladeshi products

Dhaka, Sep 16 (UNI) China will provide special preferential treatment to some Bangladeshi products to its market to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries and cooperate in paving the way for implementation of the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant undertaken for peaceful purpose.

Beijing will also consider Dhaka's request for engaging China in the Bangladesh-Myanmar Road Link scheme meant for enhancing trade and people-to-people contact.

China's assurances came during official talks between Chief Adviser of the caretaker government of Bangladesh Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People today, according to a report released by private news agency UNB from Beijing.

China also assured cooperation in constructing envisaged Meghna and Gomti bridges in Bangladesh, after constructing six friendship bridges in the country. Besides, they will provide technological support in developing hybrid seeds.

At the talks, it was told that China would send a delegation to Bangladesh over the matter of Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The Chinese top leaders including President Hu Jintao remarked that the Bangladesh-China friendship is an ''all-weather friendship'' that remains alive overcoming various issues. The Chinese rulers assured all-out cooperation to Bangladesh in accelerating its socioeconomic development.

It was hoped at the official talks that a targeted 5 billion-dollar trade volume between the two countries would be attained by 2010 and both the sides opined that the figure would further increase.

Dr Ahmed requested China's involvement in Bangladesh-Myanmar road communications to connect Kunming of China in the trans-border road linkage.

The meeting emphasised tripartite meeting among Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Responding positively about Bangladesh's request, the Chinese side said they would talk to Myanmar.

After the talks, agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, MoUs on Hydrological Information on Brahmaputra river and Agricultural Technical Cooperation were signed.

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