35th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic ties

Bangladesh-China friendship conference centre, Dhaka.

The 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and China was observed on October 4, this year. In 1975 on this date, China opened its diplomatic mission in Bangladesh
Relationship with China has become one of the priorities of successive Bangladesh governments. The heads of government of Bangladesh, irrespective of their political affiliations, invariably visited China and met with top Chinese leaders to strengthen relations in every possible sector.
Both nations seek a modern partnership based on common interests in meeting the major challenges of the 21st century.
Bangladesh's relation with China has taken a multi-faceted direction since its inception. Relations with China are not confined only to state-to-state basis. China is interested in developing party-to-party relations and, during early March of this year, a Communist Party delegation's short trip to Dhaka to meet officials of mainstream political parties demonstrated this fact.
China has assisted Bangladesh in infrastructure, power -- including hydro-power -- coal mining, setting up industrial plants, telecommunications, flood control, disaster prevention, river training, irrigation and water resources utilisation.
The visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in March this year, and that of the China's Vice President Xi Jinping to Dhaka in June (he has been anointed as the likely successor to President Hu Jintao as party chief in 2012) are evidence of the strength of the economic and political connections between Bangladesh and China. It has set the scene for greater understanding between the two countries.
A large portion of our country's infrastructural development, including roads and bridges, power plants, mining and industrial establishments were built with Chinese assistance and technology.
China built six bridges in the country. The 4.8 kilometer long Mukhterpur Bridge over the river Dhaleswari, built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, was inaugurated on February 18, 2008.
All the bridges have contributed to the accelerated socio-economic growth of the country, besides facilitating the movement of people and goods within the length and breadth of the country.
During the visit of the Bangladesh prime minister in March 17-21, China signed Letters of Exchange on construction of the seventh Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge at Kajirtek of Madaripur. China agreed to intensify efforts for the early start of the second Meghna Bridge and the construction of Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre.
By 2009 China's direct investment in Bangladesh had reached $88 million -- much higher than the previous two years -- and in 2010, there are about 186 Chinese enterprises with a registered capital of $320 million in Bangladesh.
Over the past few years, China has replaced India as Bangladesh's biggest trading partner with bilateral trade between the two nations, as of 2009, standing at $4.58 billion -- though heavily skewed in favour of Beijing with Bangladesh imports being $4.4 billion.
This year, China offered duty-free access to some 5,000 Bangladeshi products as a "goodwill gesture" in a significant development in economic ties between the two countries. The products include medicinal materials, plastic appliances, leather, timber, textile, readymade garments and poultry products.
China has provided 40 million Yuan as grant under an economic cooperation agreement. According to China, although the sum of money provided to Bangladesh is not the largest among all development partners, they put emphasis on the actual result of the assistance and whether such assistance can bring about concrete good to Bangladesh people.
Furthermore, two agreements were concluded -- one for Shahjalal Fertiliser Factory and another for the establishment of 2.5 3G telecommunication project.
China has agreed to extend its cooperation in agriculture under the MoU of 2005 in areas of hybrid rice, cultivation technology, rice seed technology, agricultural machinery technology, exchange of germ plasma resources of crops, farm products processing and technical personnel training. Furthermore, both sides will explore specific ways and means of expanding agricultural cooperation.
China agreed to increase the number of scholarships to Bangladeshi students from 80 to 150 within the next three years.
China's help is necessary in Bangladesh's efforts to mitigate the severe effects of climate change in the shape of floods and other natural calamities. In river training and dredging China has an enormous reservoir of know-how, which it can share with Bangladesh.
Future Cooperation with China may be explored in the following areas:
-Water resource management;
-Renewable use energy -- solar, wind power and biomass;
-Interconnectivity through multi-modal transport between Bangladesh and China;
-Assistance to help build Bangladesh's deep sea port near Cox's Bazar;
-Chinese direct investment in Bangladesh and establishment of an exclusive EPZ for China;
-Shifting of low-end industries to Bangladesh from China, (such garments and leather);
-Maritime security.
A study by an international group, the Strategic Foresight Group, under the heading "The Himalayan Challenge -- Water Security in Emerging in Asia," released on June 28, says that over 200 dams are to be built by China and India on the Himalayan rivers Yangtze, Brahmaputra and the Ganges to meet their water needs.
The study states that building such dams will alter the flow of Bangladesh rivers in the dry season. A decrease in water supply by up to 22% in the next two decades, rise in sea level, and increase in population may threaten Bangladesh with the risks of food insecurity, outbreak of water-borne diseases and loss of bio-diversity.
In our part of the region, a Himalayan River Commission may be set up with China, Nepal, India and Bangladesh to work together to facilitate basin-wide development to avoid conflicts among states.
The two countries share many of the challenges that will shape the region in the years ahead. Likewise there are avenues for collaboration to take advantage of opportunities that will unfold with the 21st century. It is clear that both nations can and should do more together.
In my view, Bangladesh's relationship with China ought to be a truly modern partnership, one that is practical, open and engaged on the global challenges that face both nations. I am confident that this is an aspiration that people of both countries share.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.