A new link opens up new vistas of opportunities and of furthering cooperation. And this will too, we are certain. The proposed road, we hope, will not only connect the two countries physically, it would, we expect, also help the peoples of the two countries interact more closely in trade and commerce and all other spheres that would provide an impetus to our efforts to better the condition of the two countries.

Once the radial roads are eventually constructed, particularly up to Yangon, it will provide tremendous economic benefits to all concerned. The volume of trade that now amounts to only $60 million, we are sure, will make a quantum jump from what is now largely restricted to border trade. And the balance of trade that is weighed in favour of Myanmar will be put right through export from Bangladesh of such products like pharmaceuticals, which is not currently on Yangon's import list.

As of now the link is bilateral and its prospects for onward connections with China and some Southeast Asian countries will have to be materialised essentially through further cooperation from Myanmar itself. The route being opened between Bangladesh and Myanmar has, no doubt, tremendous potential for greater connectivity if it can be extended to Kunming in the northeast and Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore in the south. A lot of spade work and infrastructure building will be involved in realising the full potential of the road link being forged with Myanmar. Dhaka will have to follow up on this with Yangon and play a vigorous role in arranging international funding for the project.

Since the road link has potential to go up to Kunming we must also take China on board.

We hope that the construction work will start soon. A new prospect to reinforce our Look-East policy has emerged, and we must be able to tap its full potential.