China, Bangla to push for progress on BCIM ahead of PM's visit

Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit here, China and Bangladesh today decided to give a big push for the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor, a multi-billion dollar project linking South Asia and East Asia for economic activity.

BCIM figured prominently during talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his visiting Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni here today.

China is willing to maintain high-level visits, deepen pragmatic cooperation and push forward the construction of the BCIM economic corridor with Bangladesh, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Moni, who arrived here yesterday on a four-day visit, said Bangladesh will actively support and participate in the construction of BCIM corridor and make joint efforts with China to comprehensively enhance bilateral relations, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The China-Bangladesh push for the multi-billion dollar venture came ahead of the three-day visit of Prime Minister Singh starting from October 22. China had said it would push for progress during Singh's visit.

The project has "great significance because it links South Asia with East Asia and (is) conducive to regional economic activity", Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying had said.

During today's meeting, Wang told Moni that China cherishes the traditional friendship with Bangladesh and attaches importance to China-Bangladesh ties. It regards Bangladesh as a natural partner and important for Beijing's opening up westward.

Moni said Bangladesh attaches great importance to the bilateral relationship and thanks China for its valuable support and assistance to the socio- economic development in Bangladesh.

The BCIM corridor was discussed during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India in May. It aims to connect Kolkata with China's Kunming city with a highway running through Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The corridor will strengthen mutual investment, trade and infrastructure and other areas of cooperation. It will help step up cooperation to build industrial parks as well as establishing railway connectivity, Hua said.

She said the consultations were on between all the four countries to advance the project, which was expected to revitalise the region.