Commerce minister's visit to elevate Dhaka-Beijing comprehensive ties to new heights: Ambassador Yao

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today (28 May) said Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao's upcoming visit would elevate the "Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership" between the two countries to new heights.

"It will serve as a platform for business communities of both countries to explore more cooperation opportunities, foster more fruitful outcomes in China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation," he said while speaking at a function marking the export of Bangladeshi mangoes to China.

The ambassador said he is more than delighted to share that in just two days Minister Wang will lead a delegation consisting of over 100 Chinese companies to visit Bangladesh.

"My Bangladeshi friends have told me that this will be the largest business delegation ever visited Bangladesh in history," he said.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will inaugurate the Bangladesh-China conference on investment and trade in Dhaka on 1 June where the Chinese and Bangladeshi businesspeople will engage and explore trade and investment opportunities.

Wang, who is scheduled to arrive on 31 May, will join the event as a special guest.

Around 250 investors and businesspeople representing 100 Chinese companies will attend the conference, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder yesterday.

While briefing the reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, he said top representatives of four Chinese chamber bodies and top executives of some Chinese companies are among the participants of the daylong conference.

This is the continuation of a recently held investment summit in Dhaka, Azad said.

Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) are going to jointly organise the event.

Wang is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on 31 May to discuss issues of mutual interest and "elevate" Bangladesh-China economic and trade relations to a new level.

During his two-day visit, the minister is likely to meet Chief Adviser Yunus and Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin in addition to his other engagements, a senior official told UNB.

Ambassador Yao said the visit of the largest-ever business delegation in Bangladesh from China, led by the Chinese minister of commerce, would send a 'strong signal' of openness, cooperation and mutual benefit.