21 written agreements reached during China visit, nothing unachievable: Bangladesh PM
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that 21 written agreements were signed during the visit to China, that’s all. Chinese businessmen have expressed interest in establishing special tourism zones, investing in real estate and hospitality sectors in Bangladesh. There is nothing to gain from this visit.
He said, despite all this, some people are saying that I did not get anything in this trip. I don’t know why they keep saying that. I don’t know if they are spreading them to embarrass me or humiliate me.
He said these things at the press conference held at Ganobhaban on Sunday about his recent visit to China.
In the press conference, the Prime Minister said, I visited China on a bilateral visit from July 8 to 10. Arriving in Beijing on July 8, I was greeted with a red carpet reception at the airport. On the morning of July 9, Jean Likun, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), paid a courtesy call on me. I urge AIIB to invest in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development, river mining, climate change and other useful sectors.
He also said, I participated in a business conference titled The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and China. Businessmen from Bangladesh and China participated there. At the conference, I invited the Chinese business community to invest in Bangladesh, taking advantage of the world’s most liberal investment regime. At this time, we call for greater investment in infrastructure, ICT, tourism, agro-processing industry, energy sector including renewable energy, climate-resilient smart farming, waste management, green technology and development.
Sheikh Hasina said that China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei, Chairman of China Communications Construction Group Company Limited Wang Tong Zhu, President and CEO of HSBC China Mark Wang, Senior Vice President of Huawei attended the conference organized by Bangladesh Embassy in China, BIDA, BSEC and China World Summit Wing. Simon Lynn spoke and highlighted their interests. In this conference, 16 memorandums of understanding and agreements were signed with representatives of 10 companies from Bangladesh and various Chinese companies.
The head of government said that when the plan to establish three special tourism zones in Bangladesh and investment opportunities in Chinese real estate and hospitality sector were mentioned, Chinese businessmen showed considerable interest in this matter. At the same time, I have called upon AIIB to invest in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development, river mining, climate change and other useful sectors.
The press conference was attended by Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Leader and Awami League Presidium member Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Arafat, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Naeemul Islam Khan and others.
