- During her visit to China, Bangaladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has emphasized on the country’s willingness to be an active partner to deepen strategic and economic engagement with China.
- The heads of the two countries discussed various issues and also signed 5 major deals including:
- Construction of a second deep-sea port off the Cox’s Bazar coast at Sonadia (This is besides the ongoing port project at Chittagong)
- Construction of a power plant in Patuakhali.
- Building a multi-lane road tunnel under the Karnaphuli river.
- The task of building the Padma bridge, Bangla’s longest multi-purpose bridge on the river Padma has been handed over to a Chinese company.
- She also sought for duty-free access for more Bangladeshi products to Chinese market, besides promising a separate economic zone in Chittagong for Chinese investors.
- The move is likely to increase China’s accessibility in the Indian Ocean besides providing it with alternate routes for energy imports.
- Bangladesh is also an important country along China’s ambitious “maritime silk road” project aimed at deepening connectivity, building ports and free trade zones and boosting trade with littoral countries.
- The Bangla PM has also expressed the affinity towards building strong relations with the India under the new govt.
- On her visit to Japan, she also promised to better Bangla-Japan ties. The move is seen by many as trying to balance the China-Japan ties to push for development of her country.
- Bangladesh and Japan also signed a deal under which Japan will extend up to $5.8 billion in economic assistance to the country over the next four to five years.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/hasina-seeks-partnership-with-china/article6106027.ece
- http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/balancing-relations-with-china-and-japan/article6106037.ece
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