State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam MP urged the visiting Chinese delegation on Monday to invest in the country’s special economic zone (SEZ) designated for Chinese investors. Shahriar Alam made the request when a senior adviser (ministerial level) of Yunnan Government of China and deputy secretary of China Communist Party met the state minister at his ministry office, officials said. The Yunnan Senior Adviser Zhong Mian is now leading a six-member Chinese delegation in Dhaka and exchanging views with government officials and business leaders to promote the fourth South Asian Expo, which will be held in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province from June 12-17 of this year. He has been in Bangladesh for three days and is likely to leave the country today (Tuesday). During the meeting the state minister observed that Dhaka has close ties with Beijing in all areas of bilateral and economic cooperation. He noted that at the economic level, Yunnan is also deeply engaged with Bangladesh. The state minister also urged the visiting adviser to create opportunities for Bangladesh business sector to explore the full potential of cooperation particularly with the provinces of China which are geographically closer to Bangladesh. Shahriar Alam requested Mr Zhong to encourage the investors of his province to invest in the SEZ designated for Chinese investors. In response the latter assured the former of conveying that message to the potential investors. Inviting the state minister to the expo, the senior adviser noted that his government had arranged some free and preferential stalls for Bangladeshi business entities and this kind of participation would expand the trade and business relationship between the two countries. The two sides discussed the economic potential of the proposed BCIM Economic Corridor. Close cooperation between Chittagong city and Kunming city, and enhancing direct communication between these two regions were also discussed in the meeting.
