China and Bangladesh are not only near each other on the map, but also close in a friendship that stretches back across millennia, the Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmad said in a recent interview with China Daily.
Friendly bonds were strengthened in more modern times when the two countries established diplomatic relationship in 1975, Ahmad said.
"Bilateral relations in all fields, including politics, economics, culture and education, have since been developing steadily," he added.
Frequent high-level visits have helped promote understanding and keep healthy relations alive, he said.
The two governments agreed to forge a comprehensive partnership during a visit to Bangladesh by Premier Wen Jiabao in 2005, further boosting their already well-developed relationship, he noted.
Last year saw a 7.9 percent annual increase in bilateral trade to $3.44 billion, including $3.33 billion in exports from China, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce.
Compared to many other countries, trade numbers may be small, but they are "phenomenal" for Bangladesh's 140 million people, the ambassador said.
China became the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh in 2006, while Bangladesh is now China's third-largest trade partner in South Asia, he said.
"We would like to see further growth in Bangladesh's exports to China," Ahmad said, adding that "we deeply appreciate the fact that the Chinese government has been taking a number of initiatives in this direction".
The Chinese side already offers duty-free access for 84 types of products from Bangladesh as part of the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement that took effect on January 1, 2006. A list of 75 additional products is currently under the consideration by the Ministry of Commerce.
China has long been a major exporter of textiles and garments, yet a growing number of orders from the United States and European countries are going to other Asian countries including Bangladesh, where textiles and garment export is the mainstay of its economy.
In spite of the competition, there is also close cooperation between business communities of the two countries, the ambassador said.
"We use China-made equipment and fabrics to make textiles and garments for export," he said.
A 21-member delegation led by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles visited Bangladesh in mid-March to explore further cooperative opportunities, according to the ambassador.
As more Chinese entrepreneurs choose Bangladesh as an investment destination, Ambassador Ahmad said he expects more balanced trade prospects.
Source: China Daily
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