China expressed annoyance over 'distorted' media reports on China-funded projects that 'adversely affects' implementation of the government-to-government ventures, competent sources said.
Referring to some reports published in a section of media, they, through a letter to the ministry concerned, said that Chinese projects are well put forward unlike media claims that the projects are on 'crawling pace'.
Beijing alleged that the delay in two projects - digital connectivity and Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway- is caused due to Bangladesh side, not by them, officials who have seen the letter told the FE.
'Bangladeshi side holds different opinions on the dispute resolution and applicable law of the loan agreement for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project,' reads the letter explaining the delay in loan signing for the project.
The delay in the signing of loan agreement for the digital connectivity resulted from 'unilateral and substantial reduction' in the contract amount of the project by Bangladesh side, the letter mentioned.
China says that among the Chinese projects, so far 7 are nearing completion, and loan agreements were signed for 3 projects.
Two projects are under commercial negotiations and three are in evaluation stage.
Another 4 listed projects are scheduled to be replaced with 4 new projects in line with the proposal of Bangladesh side, the letter says.
The progress on both sides in promoting the projects is apparently higher than that of other countries or international organizations, it observed.
China made it clear that the projects listed in the MoU are not all G-to-G projects and MoU should not be treated as commitment for funding those projects by China through concessional lending.
'Financing for the implementation of the listed projects includes preferential loan from the Chinese government, commercial loan and corporate investment,' the Chinese side points out.
The list of projects attached to the MoU is only some kind of corporate intention for the Chinese side and the Bangladeshi side in future rather than the letter of commitment for GCL or PBC, sources quoted the letter from China as saying.
A project becomes GCL or PBC project when it passes Chinese government's evaluation and the loan agreement is signed between the two sides.
China, in the letter, requested Bangladesh to release positive information about the projects in a timely manner to avoid distorted campaign about the projects.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com