China wants to invest about 350 million US dollars in various sectors of Bangladesh for product diversification, value addition as well as enhancement of exports for mutual benefits of the two countries. Visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Huchen said this at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban, said Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim on Tuesday. The Press Secretary said the Chinese Minister termed Bangladesh and its people as development partner of his country. The Chinese Minister requested the Prime Minister to form a committee that would coordinate with the Chinese side for the Chinese investment in Bangladesh. Gao Hucheng mentioned that Bangladesh produces very good quality jute products for which their export from Bangladesh increased by 10 percent in just first half of this year. He said a letter of exchange has been signed between Bangladesh and China for building a Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at Purbachal on the outskirts of Dhaka. Congratulating the Prime Minister for her government being able to maintain over six percent GDP growth over the last few years, the Chinese Minister said Bangladesh is going ahead under her visionary and dynamic leadership. The Chinese Minister also recalled the visits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1952 and 1957 and said the visits laid the foundation of the friendly relations between the two countries. During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh highly values its friendship with China. The two countries have very strong bilateral relations as well as close defence purchase cooperation, she said. Talking about connectivity, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh put importance on strengthening connectivity of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) to facilitate and enhance economic cooperation. About the Chinese investment, particularly in garment sector of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said her government allocated land in Anwara upazila of Chittagong district for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone. In this regard, she stressed establishing garment industries on Joint Venture initiatives saying her government has been setting up 22 special economic zones to attract local as well as foreign investment.
