M A I N   N E W S

China to help Bangladesh N-programme
Nazrul Islam

Dhaka/Colombo, April 8
China has offered Bangladesh assistance in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. An agreement to this effect was signed during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Dhaka yesterday.

The agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy will help Bangladesh in the fields of medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. ‘‘There is nothing military or related to weapons in this agreement,’’ said Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayatuddin.

Later at a banquet hosted in honour of the visiting Chinese Prime Minister and his entourage, Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said that there had been a constant progression in the economic arena between the two countries.

‘‘With Chinese cooperation, Bangladesh has been able to build power plants, fertiliser factories, marine fisheries and infrastructure development,’’ Zia said in her banquet speech.

She further went on to say that Bangladesh hoped to narrow its trade gap with China, reduce tariff rates and encourage large- scale investments and promote joint ventures.

During Jiabao's visit, nine accords, five agreements, two memoranda of understanding, a contract and an exchange of letters were signed. Under the accords, Bangladesh would receive $ 6 million for the capacity building of civil servants, besides Chinese help in the capacity building of law enforcement agencies. The latter agreement provides for the training in criminal investigation techniques and technologies.

Official talks between the two heads of governments preceded the signing of the agreements, memorandum of understanding and exchange of letters at the Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office.

The deals were signed on the first day of the two-day official visit by Chinese Prime Minister Wen in Bangladesh.

After their hour-long talks, the two leaders announced the year 2005 as ‘‘The Year of Friendship’’ to mark 30 years of Bangladesh- China diplomatic relationship.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao witnessed the inking of the deals.

Chinese Foreign Minister Mr Li Zhaoxing and the Bangladesh Minister for Science and Information Communication Technology, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, signed the Bangladesh-China cooperation agreement on peaceful usage of nuclear energy.

The two sides signed agreement on bilateral economic and technical cooperation and a framework agreement on provision of concession lending by China to Bangladesh. Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xillai and Bangladesh Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman signed for their respective sides.

The two sides signed two memorandums on cooperation in agricultural field and telecommunications. They also signed agreement on safety and security, one on coal mine management and production contract service.

Bangladesh and China exchanged the letters of accord on cooperation in water management and to establish direct air-link between the two countries.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday where he will sign a clutch of bilateral agreements and visit a fishing harbour hammered by December's tsunami.

Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry officials said Wen would call on President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday afternoon and approve agreements on trade relations, agriculture and debt relief.

He is then due on Saturday to inaugurate post-tsunami reconstruction in the fishing town of Panadura, 20 miles (35 km) south of Colombo, which the Chinese government is funding.

Sri Lankan Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said on Thursday the Indian Ocean island can finally put a national reconstruction plan into action — three months after the tsunami — because donors have now firmly committed $1.5 billion in aid.

Wen will attend a ceremony at a Colombo convention centre on Saturday afternoon before heading to India on the next leg of his tour. — ANI