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Bangladesh and China signed nine accords Thursday to boost relations between the two Asian countries through closer economic and bilateral cooperation, report agencies.
The areas of such cooperation for which the accords were signed include cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy, concessional financial lending, agriculture, public security, telecommunications, coal mining, water management, air communication links, technical collaboration etc.
The agreements, memorandum of understanding (MoU) and exchange-of-letters were signed capping official talks between the two governments led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.
The two premiers witnessed the signing ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) following their summit meet.
The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern during the meeting.
Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xillai and Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman signed an agreement on bilateral economic and technical cooperation and a framework agreement for provision of lending facilities by China on concessional terms to Bangladesh.
Another deal was struck on cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Minister for Science and ICT Abdul Moyeen Khan signed the Bangladesh-China Cooperation Agreement on Peaceful Usage of Nuclear Energy.
An MoU on cooperation in the agricultural field between the Ministry of Agriculture of China and the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh was signed by Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Wu Dawei and Secretary in charge of Ministry of Agriculture Kazi Abul Kasem.
The Ministry of Public Security of China and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh struck an agreement for cooperation between the two sides. Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Wu Dawei and Bangladesh Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs Safar Raj Hossain inked the accord.
An MoU on installation of digital telephone exchanges in the metropolitan cities, important district headquarters and Upazila growth centres in Bangladesh was signed by Zhu Hongjie, Vice President of the Export and Import Bank of China, and Mahmudul Hossain Mansur, Secretary in charge of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB).
A contract on management and production facilitation services of Bangladesh Baropukuria Coal Mine was signed by Chen Weigen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China General Technology (Holding) Ltd, and SR Osmani, Chairman of the Petrobangla and the BCMCI board.
The Ministries of Water Resources of China and Bangladesh exchanged letters on cooperation in water management. Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Chai Xi and Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Water Resources Md Abdul Aziz exchanged the letters of accord.
Another exchange-of-letters about the establishment of direct air-link between Bangladesh and China took place at the function. Luo Chaogeng, General Manager of China Eastern Airlines, and AKM Harun, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, exchanged the letters.
Earlier report adds: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao flew in to Dhaka Thursday on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was greeted the Chinese premier at the colourfully decorated airport tarmac.
A tiny tot presented a bouquet to the distinguished visitor as the distinguished guest alighted from the Air China aircraft.
Jiabao was given a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the three services. He took the salute and later inspected the guard.
The Chinese premier was then taken to the presentation line. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia introduced the members of her cabinet.
The chiefs of the three services, diplomats and senior officials were present at the airport.
The Chinese nationals living in Dhaka welcomed Jiabao by waiving miniature flags of China.
The airport ceremony over, the Chinese premier drove in a ceremonial motorcade to Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel, where he will be staying during the visit.
In his arrival statement, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao expressed the hope that his current visit would help further consolidate the traditional friendship and promote "new progress in Sino-Bangladesh relations.
"My current visit is aimed at enhancing friendship and deepening cooperation," he said.
As part of the agreement on economic and social sector, China will provide US $ 6.0 million to Bangladesh as grant for capacity building of the civil servants.
China has also agreed to turn the suppliers' credit into concessional loan for the US $ 29.11 million Diamonium Phosphet (DAP) fertiliser factory in Chittagong. Fifty per cent of the fund will be provided as concessional loans while 50 per cent would be made available as suppliers' credit.
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