China has ruled out a proposal to give special treatment to Bangladesh on providing assistance.
“We requested them to provide us with special treatment in interest rate, loan down payment and loan mechanism but Beijing is reluctant to do so,” said a government official.
The issue was discussed during the visit of Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng who came to Dhaka Tuesday on a two-day visit.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith had a lengthy discussion with the Chinese minister. Gao Hucheng called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit. He also met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Communication Minister Obaidul Quader.
The Chinese officials told the Bangladesh side that Beijing provides assistance to many countries and if they provide special treatment to Bangladesh, it would have negative impact on others, the official said.
“We proposed them to reduce the interest rate and they agreed to discuss the issue at the working level,” he said.
“The government proposed China to increase concession in infrastructure and energy sectors and they informed us that it is on the rise,” another official said.
Gao Hucheng in his discussion with Muhith said China is helping Bangladesh in different construction projects and Chinese companies should be given the responsibility to operate the facilities after their completion, he said.
“It would benefit in two ways. The facilities built with Chinese assistance would be better managed and the second the Chinese contractors would be more careful about quality of the work,” he added.
The government is positively considering the Chinese proposal, the official said.
China also showed interest to invest $350 million in jute sector, which the government welcomed.
“State-owned China Textiles Industry Corporation wants to invest the amount in jute sector for diversification, value addition and export to different countries including China,” the official said.
Export earnings of Bangladesh increased by 27% last year due to jute export to China, he said.
“At the meeting with the finance minister, Chinese side informed that the two-way trade in 2014 was about $12.5 billion whereas the Bangladesh statistics showed that it was about $9 billion,” the official said.
When asked why the gap is so huge, he said the Commerce Ministry could explain it.
Meanwhile, a press release of the Foreign Ministry said the Chinese minister emphasized One Belt-One Road initiative of Chinese President Xi Xinping to enhance communication.
“He summarised by saying that through this initiative and related mechanisms China wants to “Discuss together-Develop together- Share together” for common pursuit of progress and development,” the press release added.
Bangladesh foreign minister sought Chinese assistance in the capacity building of the institutions and human resources in maritime and Blue Economy.
The Chinese commerce minister in response showed keen interest in cooperating in the maritime and blue economy sector and proposed to constitute a working group in the Ministry of Commerce of China to work on the technical areas.
He also mentioned that a Chinese company named China Aquatic Corporation would look into the Bangladesh request of setting up of the first ever marine aquarium in Cox’s Bazar.
