China would like to provide financial support in communication, health, power, telecom and physical infrastructure for Bangladesh under its next five year plan.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has urged the Bangladesh government to send the name of the project to Beijing for inclusion in its five year plan beginning in 2015. However, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) is yet to finalise the list of the projects that will be submitted to the embassy of China in Dhaka.
ERD sources said, they have received a number of projects from different ministries, but some ministries are yet to send names.
Of the received projects some have no clearance of the Planning Commission.
ERD sources said, they have to weigh the Chinese interest and vision 2021 of Bangladesh.
During the recent visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India from May 19 to May 22 this year, India and China proposed in their joint statement to establish a China-India-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor, urging Bangladesh to serve as a bridge in the economic corridor.
According to ERD, China may be bracing for structural slowdown in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) as the country’s top economic planner starts its mid-stage assessment of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).
The economic development guidelines for the five years from 2016 are seen as a key in determining whether the target of “establishing a moderately well-off and harmonious society” can be achieved by the end of 2020.
The Chinese government has sought support of the government of Bangladesh in consolidating and promoting the gain of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation (BCIM). Bangladesh has also assured full support for the Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) initiatives of the Chinese government to promote trade and connectivity, sources added.
In South Asia, Bangladesh has become China’s third largest trading partner, whereas China is the largest origin of Bangladesh’s imports. According to statistics, the trade volume reached 8.45 billion USD in 2012 whereas only three years ago the figure was less than US$ 3.0 billion. The volume was seven times higher than that of 2002.
-With The Independent input
