China's ambassador in Dhaka, Yao Wen, paid a courtesy call on commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and expressed interest in importing 1,000 tonnes of hilsa from Bangladesh.

The meeting took place in the commerce adviser's office at the Secretariat on Thursday (27 February).

Yao Wen said Bangladeshi hilsa is in great demand in China, and Bangladesh has an opportunity to narrow the trade gap by exporting it. He expressed interest in importing 1,000 tonnes of hilsa initially.

"We also want to import mangoes, jackfruit and guava from this country and to increase investment in these sectors in Bangladesh. Chinese investors are interested in investing in Bangladesh, and 30 Chinese companies have shown interest in investing in the economic zone in Chattogram," he said.

The commerce adviser said China is one of Bangladesh's development partners and a friendly country, and there is scope to strengthen bilateral relations further by increasing investment. He called for greater Chinese investment in Bangladesh's agriculture, transportation, agro-machinery and healthcare sectors.

He said the trade gap between Bangladesh and China is wide, and called on China to increase imports from Bangladesh and cut all kinds of tariffs on imported goods to reduce it.

Saying Bangladesh needs Chinese investment, he added that investment in setting up truck factories and modernising agriculture in the country would bring good results for both countries.

Md Abdur Rahim Khan, additional secretary (export) of the commerce ministry, was present.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.