China for momentum in relations

The Chinese government has stressed the need for the continuation of momentum reached in political and strategic relations and the implementation of deals signed with Bangladesh during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka in 2016. 
Chinese ambassador Ma Mingqiang discussed the matter with foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque on Monday, officials said. 
The agreements signed and political consensus reached during Xi’s visit ‘was a turning point’ in the bilateral relations, they said, adding that the Chinese government ‘believes that both sides should maintain momentum gained in different aspects during the visit’.
China also wants to hold discussions soon on setting priorities for the implementation of the 27 agreements signed during Xi’s visit, the said. 
The two countries are likely to hold a foreign secretary-level meeting in April or May to discuss the matters, the officials said.
In the second week of April, prime minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to travel to New Delhi on a reciprocal official visit. 
China has invited several Bangladesh ministers in a conference on ‘Belt and Road’ forum for international cooperation in Beijing in May to brainstorm about interconnected development. 
The two countries, during Xi Jinping’s visit in Dhaka in October 14-15, 2016, signed 27 deals, including agreements involving about $20 billion as loan from China to steer development, trade and economic cooperation. 
The areas of cooperation the two countries mentioned in the agreements were cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative, industrial capacity building, power and energy, information and communication technology, investment, maritime cooperation, disaster management and cultural and people-to-people contacts.
The two sides also agreed to maintain military cooperation and exchanges at various levels and deepen cooperation in areas such as personnel training, equipment and technology and UN peacekeeping missions.
Xi and prime minister Sheikh Hasina said in similar language that they agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a ‘strategic partnership for cooperation.’ 
They also agreed to launch a joint feasibility study on China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement to strengthen trade and investment cooperation. Bangladesh has no free trade agreement with any country.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi also discussed the matters with foreign secretary Shahidul Haque on January 7 during his stopover at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on his [Wang] way to Africa.
Xi put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, with the aim to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.
China is now the largest trading partner of Bangladesh and Bangladesh is China’s third-largest trading partner and third-largest project contract market in South Asia with bilateral trade of $14.7 billion in 2015, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

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