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The decision of the government of China to help Bangladesh develop the latter's nuclear power generation and to extend cooperation in nuclear medicine and biotechnology is a landmark development for deepening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The agreement, signed Thursday for the propose, related to a crucial area that was not meticulously pursued by any governments since the independence of Bangladesh.
In another major decision, China also agreed to give Bangladesh preferential trade facilities. The exiting bilateral trade is largely in favour of Beijing.
"An agreement has been signed for peaceful use of nuclear energy," said the Foreign Secretary Hemayet Uddin at the press briefing held at a city hotel.
He said Bangladesh is yet to determine whether the long abandoned Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant would be revived, but definitely, 'Bangladesh will use nuclear power in peaceful purposes.'
The Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh was a signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and still believes in such international agreements.
He also said Bangladesh was a member of the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA) and is committed to abiding by the laws of the IAEA.
The decisions about nuclear energy development and trade promotion came when officials of visiting China Premier Wen Jiabao met their counterparts in Bangladesh and identified the areas of cooperation.
Foreign Secretary Hemayet Uddin told the newsmen after Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had held talks in the city.
The "talks were held in an extremely cordial environment," he noted.
Bangladesh made a proposal to China for a concessional loan of US $ 400 million for modernising its telecommunication facilities in the metropolitan, district and Upazila towns.
In response, China has promised to provide a US $ 6.0 million grant for Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary said.
Under the MoU signed to operate Dhaka-Beijing direct air services, the first flights between Dhaka and Beijing are scheduled to make debut on May 18, the foreign secretary said.
He said China has highly appreciated Bangladesh's efforts in the regional and international political area and that the bilateral relations between the two countries would deepen further in the coming days.
"The political relations of these two countries will reach to a new height," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was quoted by the Foreign Secretary as saying.
The Chinese Premier emphasised the need for more people-to-people contacts and frequent visits by political leaders of these two countries.
Wen Jiabao praised Bangladesh's interest and involvement in regional politico-economic blocs such as the BIMSTEC and the SAARC.
He also expected the hope the Bangladesh would continue to work for these organisations.
The Chinese Premier furthermore commended the pro-active role of Bangladesh's foreign policy.
BDNEWS adds: Direct flight between Beijing and Dhaka through Kunming will start on May 18, with China declaring Bangladesh as a 'Tourist Destination Country'.
The letter of exchange on the direct air link that was signed in Dhaka will open a new horizon to the economic progress and the relations between the two countries.
An aircraft of China Eastern Airlines will fly to Dhaka via Beijing-Kunming on May 18. On the same day, the plane will return to Beijing via Kunming. Initially, seven flights will run in a week.
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