Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that his country wants to invest in solar panels in Bangladesh and deepen trade and economic ties with Dhaka.
He expressed his country’s interest as he called on Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York City on Wednesday (local time).
The Chinese foreign minister called Prof Yunus as "an old friend of the Chinese people," as he congratulated the chief adviser for assuming the leadership of the interim government.
"We have full confidence in you that you will live up to the expectations of the people," he said, hoping that Yunus would unite the country.
Wang Yi said China would attach importance to Yunus's call to Chinese solar panel manufacturers for setting up plants in Bangladesh.
The chief adviser made the call when Chinese ambassador in Dhaka met him last month.
The Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would also encourage greater cooperation and partnership between the companies of the two nations.
He said Bangladesh would also benefit from Chinese decision to allow zero tariff access to all goods from the Least Developed Countries.
He also said Chinese Red Cross has sent a team of doctors to treat the students and people who were grievously injured during the July-August mass uprising.
Wang Yi said China would welcome more students from Bangladesh as well.
Prof Yunus thanked China for its gesture, praising "amazing" Chinese efforts to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
He said Chinese solar companies could invest in a bigger way in Bangladesh, which enjoys preferable market access to many rich nations. He also called other Chinese manufacturers to relocate their factories to Bangladesh.
The chief adviser stressed closer relations with China and opening "a new chapter" in the ties between the two nations.
He also called for increasing technological collaboration between the companies of both nations.
"We will love to collaborate with Chinese companies. We have a lot of scope to work together," he said.
"If Chinese investment comes to Bangladesh for solar panels manufacturing, it will be a milestone as it's a massive investment and will help create huge jobs," said the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam after the meeting.
He said Bangladesh will make benefit out of that investment, and Bangladesh would be a major exporter of solar panels.
Shafiqul said China wants to strengthen "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" with Bangladesh.
