"We have requested the delegation of Chinese Communist Party to provide assistance for the proposed Padma Bridge and they will inform us about it after discussion with their authorities," he said.

Bhuiyan, also BNP secretary general, was talking to reporters after a bilateral meeting between the visiting delegation of Chinese Communist Party and BNP's senior leaders at the state guesthouse, Meghna.

The LGRD minister said, "China has constructed many bridges in Bangladesh and we told the delegation that we need to construct more bridges."

The six-member delegation was led by the head of International Division of Chinese Communist Party and Minister Wang Jiarui at the meeting, while Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan led the BNP team.

Bhuiyan said there is a huge trade gap between two the countries and the meeting discussed ways to reduce the gap. "China has already given tax-free access of many Bangladeshi products to their market and we asked for more. We have asked the Chinese delegation to extend further economic assistance and invest more."

Talking to reporters through an interpreter after the meeting, Chinese Minister Wang Jiarui said they have achieved a great deal from the meeting. "At the meeting, we had extensive exchanges of views. We have talked about the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, socio-economic development of China and bilateral issues."

Terming the existing relations between the two countries strong, Jiarui said, "The message we want to send that we have a friendly relationship with Bangladesh and it will be strengthened further. China will remain a good friend of Bangladesh."

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, Environment Minister Tariqul Islam, Food Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Chief Whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain, BNP Standing Committee members KM Obaidur Rahman and Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, and Lt General (retd) Mahbubur Rahman MP represented BNP at the meeting.

The other members of the Chinese delegation, who attended the meeting, were Ai Ping, DG international division of Chinese Communist Party, Zhang Xuyi, Xiao Ning Ning, Zhao Yin and zhao Qiang. Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh was also present.

The delegation later paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan at the state guesthouse, Padma.