China has signed off on more than $33bn in government and private-sector investment to fund a series of large-scale infrastructure projects in Bangladesh during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka on Friday.
Xi’s visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to Bangladesh in 30 years, is part of the Asian economic giant’s ambition to advance its “One Belt, One Road” initiative – a grand plan devoted to reviving the ancient Silk Road trading route from Asia to Europe by boosting economic ties and investing in transport hubs. He last visited Bangladesh in 2010 as vice-president.
The 26 deals – mostly in infrastructure projects – involve about $20bn in low-cost loans to be provided by China under a government-to-government arrangement, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Finance MA Mannan said by phone.
Separately, Chinese and Bangladeshi companies signed 13 joint-venture agreements involving $13.6bn to boost bilateral trade, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry said at a media briefing in Dhaka. Chinese companies will invest in power, railways, sport and an economic zone, he said. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali described the visit as an “historic new journey.”
“Bangladesh is important to China in extending its Belt and Road projects to South Asia and balancing its relations with India,” said Sun Shihai, president of the official Chinese Association for South Asian Studies in Beijing. “A major deal like this could certainly bring the relations into a new level.”