‘Political stability needed for development’

Visiting special envoy of China foreign affairs ministry Chai Xi said political stability is needed for the development of Bangladesh. He told newsmen after a meeting with Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam at latter’s office in the secretariat on May 6.

According to diplomatic sources, the celebration of 40th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations was discussed in the meeting. On the occasion, Chinese Prime Minister is likely to visit Dhaka. Various international issues, including strengthening the friendly relations between the two nations, were discussed in the meeting. “Bangladesh has made much progress. Political stability is needed to continue this development,” Chai Xi said, “People of the country will solve the internal problems by themselves.” He referred to his long association with Bangladesh as a language student, as diplomatic corps member at the China embassy in Dhaka, as an ambassador-level officer and then as ambassador plenipotentiary.The China special envoy further said, “The two countries reached a consensus for the establishment of a special industrial zone in Bangladesh for China. After the implementation of the zone, two sides will be benefited in several fields including employment.”

Belt and Road
The Chinese special envoy also reiterated China’s interest in connecting Bangladesh with its One Belt One Road initiative, by BCIM-EC agreement for land route connectivity between Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar, and by a deep-sea port in the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar development area with possible access to northeast India and Myanmar for connectivity with the 21st century Marine Silk Road initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping. As such, special envoy Chai Xi spoke of China’s keen interest to provide assistance to the construction of a deep-sea port in Bangladesh.
Earlier, a section of the Bangladesh media had misquoted the present Ambassador Plenipotentiary of China to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang and left the readership with the wrong impression that China is no more interested in Sonadia deep-sea port; the Japanese were proactive with the Bangladesh government for feasibility study of possible extension of its coal terminal project at Matarbari north of Sonadia to a deep-sea port project, and there was no point in duplication of study.
Ambassador Ma Mingqiang later clarified to some members of Bangladeshi diplomatic community that actually he said there would be no pressure on Bangladesh government from China as to where the deep-sea port is to be located or who should build it. Of course Chinese companies would be pursuing the study of Sonadia deep-sea port project, as Japanese companies are pursuing study for a deep-sea port at Matarbari. But the choice and the need is of Bangladesh government and of the region. China would come forward to help build a deep-sea port if Bangladesh wants it. China’s own trade needs are adequately served by its own ports and other accessible ports in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Source: Weekly Holiday