Governor of Yunnan Province of Kunming Qin Guangrong yesterday assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of taking initiatives by his provincial government for promotion of trade and investment with Bangladesh.
He also put emphasis on enhancing people-to-people contact, saying his provincial government would give importance to promote tourism between the two countries and create opportunities for Bangladeshi students for study in Kunming.
The governor said this at a meeting with Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite in the evening.
PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shamim Chowdhury briefed reporters after the meeting. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haq was present.
The Prime Minister requested the Yunnan governor for quick execution of the project for construction of road from Kunming to Chittagong via Myanmar.
“Connectivity is the only way for boosting ties,” she said, adding that Bangladesh gives importance to connectivity with Kunming, as it is the gateway to South and Southeast Asia and the closest as neighbour.
The governor said Bangladeshi goods have a big market in Kunming.
“The provincial government would take measures for easy marketing of the Bangladeshi goods in Yunnan to reduce trade gap between the two countries,” he said.
Later, the Prime Minister joined a banquet hosted in her honour by the Yunnan governor.
Meanwhile, a Bangladesh business delegation based in Beijing and Hong Kong and a team of Bangladeshi students pursuing higher education in different institutions in Kunming also called on the Prime Minister at her hotel here this evening.
In the meetings, Sheikh Hasina urged members of the business delegation to explore Chinese investment for jute and leather sectors in Bangladesh.
She said the government would extend all possible support to foreign investors in the jute sector.
The Prime Minister inquired about the wellbeing of the students. “The students have many things to learn from China,” she said, urging them to take opportunity during their stay in Kunming.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, PM’s Advisor HT Imam, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, and PM’s Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, among others, were present.