Visiting Yunnan Province Governor of China Li Jiheng on Sunday said Bangladesh would become a hot destination for global investment in the coming days where Yunnan Province wants to play a vital role.
The Yunnan Province Governor made the observation when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the morning.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting PM’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil informed that the Yunnan Governor handed over an official invitation letter to the Prime Minister to join the China-South Asia Expo to be held in Kunming in the first week of June.
Accepting the invitation, Sheikh Hasina said she would try her best to be present at the Exposition, hoping that this Exposition would be a golden opportunity for the South Asian countries including Bangladesh to enhance their trade and commerce.
Highly lauding the hospitality of the Bangladesh government, the Yunnan Province Governor said the Bangladesh-China relationship is tested in time and the Yunnan Province is the next door neighbor to Bangladesh.
Recalling Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Kunming in 2010, Governor Li Jiheng felicitated the Prime Minister for winning the January 5 election with absolute majority.
The Governor said that, China had always been with the people of Bangladesh and would remain so in the future.
Mentioning the achievement of around 6 percent GDP growth by Bangladesh on average in the last few years, the Yunnan Province Governor said this was possible due to the solid leadership of Sheikh Hasina and her pledge to the people of Bangladesh.
In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the governor for continued support of the Chinese government as well as the people of China towards the advancement of Bangladesh’s democracy and development.
She also extended her thanks to China for the way it has supported Bangladesh to maintain the continuity of democracy in the country through the January 5 election.
Noting the importance of connectivity between Bangladesh and Yunnan, Hasina said that following her visit to Kunming in 2010, the two-way trade, commerce and investment has increased manifold and the rising trend would continue further in the days to come.
Emphasizing the need for setting up of roads and rail connectivity between Bangladesh and Kunming via Myanmar, she said that such connectivity would increase to a great extent the trade and commerce between the two places.
The Prime Minister said that, if the economic corridor of BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) is implemented fully, then all the four member countries would benefit from this forum.
Mentioning that there has been a historical bond between Bangladesh and China, she said the Dhaka-Kunming direct communication symbolizes the increased relationship between the two regions. She also emphasized the need for direct communication between Chittagong and Kunming.
Citing the existing Chinese support to Bangladesh’s infrastructure, IT, defense and gas sector, Hasina hoped this support would continue in the future.
Referring to the recent missing of a Malaysian airlines plane with some 150 passengers of China apart from others, the Prime Minister conveyed her deep sympathy to the families of those passengers of the missing jet and informed the Yunnan Governor about the measures taken by the Bangladesh Government to hunt the missing aircraft.
Acknowledging the Bangladesh government steps to this end, the Yunnan Province governor expressed deep gratitude to Hasina in this regard.
The Yunnan Province Governor also noted that Chittagong and Kunming have now become sister cities.
Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abdus Sobhan Sikder, PM’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun and high officials of the Yunnan Province were, among others, present on the occasion.
Governor of China’s Yunnan Province Li Jiheng is currently on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh to discuss possible areas of mutual cooperation between the two countries.
Governor Li Jiheng is leading a six-member delegation that includes high officials of the government of Yunnan Province.
