36th Anniversary of Sino-Bangladesh ties
Barrister Harun ur Rashid
The interaction between the people of Bangladesh and China, which are only about 300 km. apart, dates back centuries. They celebrated 36 years of establishment of diplomatic ties on October 4, this year.
Relationship with China has been one of the priorities of successive governments of Bangladesh. Heads of government of Bangladesh, irrespective of their political affiliations, invariably visited China and met with Chinese leaders to strengthen relations in every possible sector. Both nations seek partnership based on common interests in meeting the major challenges to global and regional economic growth, peace and security.
Relations with China are not confined to state-to-state basis. China is interested in developing party-to-party relations, and exchanges between political party officials take place regularly. For example, at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, a young cadre study group of the Bangladesh Awami League headed by Biplab Barua, Assistant Secretary of the party Central Executive Committee, is visiting China now (October 12 to 21).
The visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in March last year and that of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in June in that year (he has been anointed as the likely successor to President Hu Jintao as party chief) are evidence of the strength of the economic and political connections between Bangladesh and China. It has set the scene for greater understanding between the two countries.
During the visit of the Bangladesh prime minister, the two countries signed Letters of Exchange on the construction of the seventh Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge at Kajirtek of Madaripur. China agreed to intensify efforts for the early start of the eighth second Meghna Bridge and the construction of Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre.
When the Chinese vice president was in Bangladesh, China agreed to provide 40 million Yuan as grant under an economic cooperation agreement. Furthermore, two agreements were concluded -- one for Shahjalal Fertiliser Factory and the other for establishment of 2.5 3G telecommunication project.
Bangladesh's relations with China are multi-faceted. China has assisted our country in sectors like infrastructure, roads, bridges, power including hydro-power, coal mine, industrial plants, telecommunications, flood control, disaster prevention, river training, irrigation and water resources utilisation.
China has built six bridges in Bangladesh. The 4.8 kilometer Mukhterpur Bridge over the river Dhaleswari, built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, was inaugurated on February 18th, 2008. All the bridges have contributed to the accelerated socio-economic growth of the country, besides facilitating the movement of people and goods across the country.
China's direct investment in Bangladesh reached $88 million dollars by 2009, much higher than previous two years. By 2010, there were about 186 Chinese enterprises with a registered capital of $320 million in Bangladesh.
Over the past few years, China has replaced India as Bangladesh's biggest import destination, with bilateral trade between the two nations as of 2009-10 standing at $4.58 billion, though heavily skewed in favour of Beijing with Bangladesh import being $4.4 billion.
In 2010, China offered duty-free access to some 5,000 Bangladeshi products as a "goodwill gesture" in a significant development in economic ties between the two countries. The products include medicinal materials, plastic appliances, leather, timber, textile, readymade garments and poultry products.
During the visit of the Bangladesh prime minister, Bangladesh suggested road and rail connectivity with Kunming through Myanmar. China agreed to explore the possibility of transport links between the two countries, according to the Joint Statement released after the visit.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also said that the deep-sea port to be built near Cox's Bazar could be used by regional countries including India and China. China expressed its willingness to assist in building the port.
Such interconnectivity will open up cooperation in trade, investment and flow of goods from Chittagong to Kunming. China may build underground oil pipelines from Bangladesh through Myanmar and use it for the supply of oil to Kunming for the south eastern provinces and central provinces of China. The route would be much shorter and less expensive.
China has been a major supplier of defence materials to Bangladesh. Senior armed officials including chiefs of the armed services have developed cooperative relations with their counterparts. China agreed to increase the number of scholarships to Bangladeshi students from 80 to 150 within the next three years.
China's help is necessary in Bangladesh's efforts to mitigate the severe effects of climate change in the shape of floods and other natural calamities. In river training and dredging China has enormous reservoir of know-know, which it can share with Bangladesh.
In the recent past, Bangladesh and China agreed to actively participate in and promote Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) regional economic cooperation.
Future cooperation with China may be explored in the following areas:
-Water resource management;
-Renewable energy, such as solar, wind power and biomass;
-Promotion of Chinese Direct Investment in Bangladesh and establishment of an exclusive EPZ for China;
-Shifting of low-end industries such as garments and leather to Bangladesh from China;
-Maritime security, including sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean.
By any measure China's growth has been extraordinary -- from 1980 to 2010 its economy grew 18-fold, an annual average of 10%. China is the world's second largest economy and, according to the IMF's forecasts, will overtake the US in 2016.
It is clear that Bangladesh needs to develop a truly modern partnership with China, one that is practical, open and engaged to meet the global and regional challenges.
Finally, on the 62nd Founding Anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zhang Xianyi wrote in an article on October 1: "China-Bangladesh relationship has become a model of friendship between countries with different social systems and cultures." (Daily Star/October 1)
The writer is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=207045
__._,_.___
