Chinese ambassador Li Jiming informed that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and China exceeded US$25 billion.
Terming the economic cooperation between the two countries 'most eye-catching’ Mr Li also informed that China has granted 98 per cent duty-free treatment to help boost Bangladesh`s export to the East Asian country.
He said these while addressing a function organised to mark the 73rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China held at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center on Saturday.
The ambassador said that China has arranged six chartered flights to take back the Bangladeshi students who are stranded in Dhaka during the pandemic.
The first of these flights will take off the day Monday.
He said the embassy had restarted visa issuance, and it will charter six flights for them.
About the Chinese projects in Bangladesh he said, major projects funded or constructed by China have been completed, including the Payra Power Plant and the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, both the largest of their kind across the whole region.
The Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center and the Bangamata 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge built with Chinese aid have also been completed and put into use, he added.
“Other projects under construction, such as the Single Point Mooring System and the Karnaphuli Tunnel, have also made sound progress and will be completed soon”.
China and Bangladesh are amicable neighbours and indispensable strategic partners, the envoy said adding that friendly interactions between the two countries could be traced back centuries ago.
Referring to the recent visits of the speaker of the Chinese parliament and the Chinese foreign minister, the Chinese envoy said, during the interactions, the two sides renewed commitments to traditional friendship, reiterated the one-China principle, agreed to deepen strategic integration, and further enhanced practical cooperation, thereby jointly infused power of stability to the region and beyond against an uneasy international environment.
Planning Minister Abdul Mannan was the chief guest at the programme.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com