Staff Reporter :China has expressed its eagerness to build deep sea port in Bangladesh even collaboration with other countries in any location of Sonadia or Payra. “We are certainly here to collaborate. Of course, this cooperation is open, and it’s not exclusive. We are eager to collaborate with any country,” said Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Ma Mingqiang.The Chinese Ambassador made the remark while interacting with diplomatic correspondents at the Jatiya Press Club on Monday.Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) arranged the interaction – DCAB Talk, with its President Angur Nahar Monty in the chair. DCAB General Secretary Pantho Rahman also spoke on the occasion. The government is now considering a deep seaport at Payra in Patuakhali and a number of countries, including China, India, and some Middle Eastern and European countries want to invest in different components of the deep seaport project, according to government sources.The Chinese Ambassador said there is no deep seaport in Bangladesh but it is required for trade facilitation. Responding to a question on Chinese investment in Bangladesh, Ambassador Ma said the Chinese investment is growing in Bangladesh. “This year there will be something different. This year will be different (in terms of investment).” He said there should be a need for investment, in which case it will automatically come in. “Many Chinese groups are coming to Bangladesh in recent times.”According to the statistics of China’s Customs, the trade volume between Bangladesh and China has reached US$ 14.7 billion in 2015, although still overwhelmingly in deficit for Bangladesh and surplus for China.”We need to have balanced trade to make it sustainable. We cannot offset the trade deficit simply by doing trade,” Ambassador Ma said, mentioning that more direct Chinese investment can help minimize the trade gap. The seasoned diplomat said Bangladesh needs to build up manufacturing capacity to produce more products so it can ‘catch up’ the Chinese demand. He said Bangladesh can be a ‘manufacturing hub’ in the region and can boost its exports to China considering its need. Ambassador Ma said Bangladesh is a country ‘full of opportunities’ and its economy is booming. “There are so many areas we can cooperate.”The Chinese Ambassador said the relationship between Bangladesh and China has maintained sound momentum since 1975, when it was first established. The two countries have formed a comprehensive partnership of cooperation, he said. Terming Bangladesh China’s best friend, the Ambassador said China will be there to meet Bangladesh’s need and fulfill its development goals. He assured that industrial capacity cooperation is a major part of the “Road & Belt Initiative”.China is also willing to help improve the skill of the labour force in Bangladesh, so as to create more employment and strengthen the inner impetus of Bangladesh’s sustainable development, he said.Recently, China and Bangladesh have reached census on the eighth China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge and the China-Bangladesh Friendship Exposition Center to be built in Purbachal, and China will provide assistance for the renovation of the BICC, he added. On military cooperation, the Chinese envoy said both the sides are willing to strengthen cooperation.The Chinese government will donate a batch of medical, disaster relief and agriculture instruments to Bangladesh, and is now working on a comprehensive plan of flood prevention and promoting hybrid rice technology. China also provides a good number of scholarships to Bangladeshi students. Last year, nearly a thousand governmental officials and students went to China for training and further study.
