B'desh seeks duty, quota-free entry of its products into China

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has sought duty-free and quota-free entry of all Bangladeshi products into the Chinese market to address the current trade imbalance.

"We would request you to allow all Bangladeshi products duty-free and quota-free entry into the Chinese market to address the current trade imbalance," the Daily Star quoted the President as saying during his meeting with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the meeting, Xi said that China would continue its cooperation as a development partner for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.

"China would consider with due importance increasing Bangladesh export to China," said the Chinese president.

Hamid said that China is Bangladesh's largest trading partner and bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing steadily and that the two sides have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations and traditional, time-tested friendship and cooperation.

"As you have your 'Chinese dream', we also have 'Vision 2021' to become a middle-income country by 2021 and 'Vision 2041' to become a developed country by 2041. We consider China as a trusted partner in this pursuit," he added.

"We have always supported China's core issues of national interest, particularly its 'One China Policy'," the President said.

He also said that Bangladesh highly values the Chinese cooperation in the areas of infrastructure development, trade, investment, agriculture, energy and power, ICT and telecommunications which has made positive impacts on our socioeconomic progress.