Dhaka, Beijing sign eight MoUs, one deal on economic, technical cooperation

Bangladesh and China on Friday signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation, along with eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as translation and production of classics, cultural heritage exchanges, news and media cooperation, as well as sports and health sectors, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

Additionally, five key announcements were made regarding investment, infrastructure, and technology cooperation between the two countries.

Among the announcements were the initiation of formal negotiations on investment and the launch of the China Industrial Economic Zone.

The countries also revealed plans to sign a commercial agreement for the modernisation and expansion of Mongla port, establish a robot physiotherapy and rehabilitation center, and donate a cardiac surgery vehicle.

Briefing reporters after a bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the Great Hall in Beijing on Friday, Yunus’ Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said President Jinping assured China’s support for Bangladesh’s interim government, expanding economic ties by relocating manufacturing enterprises to that country and allowing duty-free access to its products.

Yunus, on a four-day visit to China, took part in the country’s Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan after his arrival there on Wednesday. He arrived in Beijing on Thursday and was received at the airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

Alam said Xi has assured that his country would encourage Chinese investment and relocation of Chinese manufacturing enterprises to Bangladesh.

“It was a huge successful bilateral meeting,” PTI quoted Alam as telling reporters in China.

Alam explained that their talks were “comprehensive, fruitful and constructive, marked by warmth”.

Alam said President Xi reiterated China’s support to the Chief Adviser and his interim government.

The press secretary said it was Yunus’s first bilateral foreign tour, and so far, it has been a “grand success”.

President Xi spoke about his two tours to Bangladesh and said he studied microcredit when he was the governor of Fujian province, Alam said.

The Chinese President also said he tried Bangladeshi mangoes and jackfruit as “they are delicious. Bangladesh is expected to export the two fruits to China in a big way in the coming months”.

With inputs from agencies