Bangladesh has sought duty-free access to Chinese market, Chinese investment in small and medium joint ventures like power and grants and concessional loans to reduce the huge trade imbalance.

"China now provides duty free access of 84 Bangladeshi items, but we want complete opening up Chinese market for our products to reduce gap within shortest possible time," Foreign Secretary Hemayet Uddin told reporters in Dhaka Sunday.

Briefing on the outcome of the 8th annual Foreign Office consultations with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei in Beijing on April 19, he said the Chinese side acknowledged the widening trade gap and assured of continued cooperation in reducing the gap.

Hemayet also urged Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce Wei Jianguo to increase the volume of purchase from Bangladesh, particularly such items like pharmaceuticals, ceramics, leather goods and other finished products.

"There is enough scope for Chinese entrepreneurs to find out their Bangladeshi business counterparts for setting up joint ventures," the Foreign Secretary told the Chinese officials.

He said a business investment delegation of China will visit Bangladesh soon to explore how to increase two-way trade and investment in Bangladesh.

Besides, Hemayet said the two sides expressed interest in establishing trilateral road link from Chittagong-Myanmar-Kunming.

The Chinese side said that following the operation of direct air link between Dhaka-Chittagon-Kunming, the number of Chinese tourists has increased recently.

The foreign secretary said some Chinese tourists are interested in making investment in setting up hotels and health centers for development of tourism in Bangladesh.

Hemayet said the two sides also discussed peaceful uses of nuclear energy in agriculture and power sectors.

He said the two sides also agreed that the bilateral relation has reached a new height following a visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Dhaka in April last year and a return visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in August 2005, marking the 30 years of diplomatic relations.

Source: Xinhua