| Visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Sunday that his country was ready to extend cooperation with Bangladesh in trade and commerce, with a particular eye on agriculture, jute, marine fisheries and research.
The Chinese minister, who led a large delegation of Chinese businesspeople and industrialists at the China-Bangladesh Conference on Investment and Trade in Dhaka on Sunday, made the comments when he called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.
“The Chinese companies that have come with me are excited. You expressed the direction of Bangladesh’s future development. The Chinese companies told me that they are now more confident about investing in Bangladesh after your initiatives.” Wentao told the Chief Adviser.
Referring to growing consumerism in Bangladesh, the Chinese minister said that he was impressed by the presence of shoppers in Bangladeshi malls even after 10:00 pm and cited statistics that suggested that by 2030, Bangladesh would become the ninth largest consumer market in the world.
The Chief Adviser insisted that there are huge opportunities left unexplored in Bangladesh’s villages, especially in the field of agriculture, and in deep water marine and fish water river fisheries.
The Chief Adviser said with a Chinese touch every village in Bangladesh could be transformed into a production unit.
“As we discussed, we are eager to know what areas of agriculture we can have full-scale cooperation in,” the Chinese minister said, referring to areas such as farmland development, water conservation, and planting technologies.
“As I see it, agriculture is not just an industry but a form of social organisation,” the minister said.
When it comes to fisheries and the marine economy, he mentioned Chinese expertise in the fields and sought specific proposals from Bangladesh.
“China is leading the world in fishing technologies, especially deep water marine fishing,” said the Chinese minister.
The Chinese minister also took note of Professor Yunus’s speech made earlier in the day at the China-Bangladesh Conference on Investment and Trade when the Bangladesh Chief Adviser spoke about the potential of reviving Bangladesh’s jute sector.
He said China imports jute worth $100 million from Bangladesh annually, which is roughly 10 per cent of Bangladesh’s jute exports, and with research and product diversification, this could grow manifold.
He said that after the Chief Adviser’s speech at the conference, Chinese jute traders gathered immediately to decide to conduct some research on Bangladesh’s jute products.
“Our cooperation should not be limited to businesses. We should also collaborate on research. If the Bangladesh side joins the research work, I think jute will be a very suitable product for us,” Wentao said.
The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh’s jute product designers can work together with Chinese experts.
He appreciated the Chinese minister’s gesture and thanked China for being on the side of Bangladesh as a friend.
“Your words are music to my ears,” said the Chief Adviser, also hailing the Chinese minister for bringing so many Chinese investors with him and then making a passionate speech about Bangladesh’s prospects at the China-Bangladesh conference earlier in the day.
“We are absolutely delighted. Your speech (today) was really important. So many investors came. It is a good signal for us, as the whole nation is watching,” he said.
He recalled his recent visit to China when many bilateral issues were discussed, including trade and commerce.
“During our visit, we had a lot of friendly discussions. Your visit will take it forward,” said the Chief Adviser.
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