Bangladesh, a close friend and neighbour: China

Terming Bangladesh a “close friend and neighbour”, China has assured Bangladesh of providing further assistance and support in the days to come.
Ma Kai, vice premier of China, gave the assurance while visiting the Bangladesh pavilion in the first China South Asia Exposition at Kunming, the capital of Yunann province, in China yesterday.
Dilip Barua, industries minister, and Gowher Rizvi, an adviser to the prime minister for international relations, greeted Kai at the pavilion, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Chinese leader also congratulated Bangladesh for being the “Theme Country” of the expo, where Bangladeshi businesses took part occupying 150 booths.
The two-way trade between the two countries surpassed $8 billion in 2012, up from nearly $3 billion three years ago, Barua said while speaking at the eighth China-South Asia Business Forum yesterday.
“The figure may soon pass the $10 billion mark.”
With its place between two emerging economic blocks, Asean on the east and Saarc on the west, Bangladesh has great potential for itself and its neighbours, he said.
He said the Chittagong port has emerged as one of the most important outlets to the sea.
Barua also underscored the need for opening communication channels between south and south-west China and Bangladesh, through Myanmar, without further delay.