DHAKA, March 19 (APP):  In a significant move, seen by strategic experts in Dhaka as her attempt to open up a new exit route for Bangladesh, now almost encircled by India geographically, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday sought Chinese cooperation to construct a Deep Seaport in the southeastern Chittagong district and establish road link between Chittagong and Kunming.

“China can be benefited by using the Deep Seaport while all neighboring countries also can use it,” she said as a key speaker at the Bangladesh-China Business Forum and Luncheon Reception at State Guest House Diaouthai in Beijing, reported by state-run BSS news agency in Dhaka Friday.

Now Bangladesh has the lone outlet through the Bay of Bengal sea in the southeast while three other sides are bordered by India.  

The Prime Minister invited Chinese investors to put money in Bangladesh’s promising sectors like textiles, small machineries, fertilizers, footwear and ceramics.

She also encouraged investment in IT outsourcing, tourism, healthcare, education, power, telecommunications, infrastructure development, gas and energy, agro-based industries and pharmaceuticals.

The China Council for Promotion of International Trade and Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing jointly arranged the reception.

Director of the Chinese Council for International Trade Zhang Wei also spoke at the meeting. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua and Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain, among others were present.

Hasina’s plea came as Bangladesh and China decided to establish a “Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation” from the strategic perspective and on the basis of the principles of longstanding friendship, equality, and mutual benefit.

A joint statement, issued Friday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, said the leaders of the two countries had an in-depth exchange of views and reached agreement on newer directions for taking China-Bangladesh relations forward.

The direct road link between Bangladesh and China through Myanmar will allow the former to have road linkages with Southeast Asia, strategists said.

The initiative was first made by the immediate past political government headed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. 

Incidentally, Prime Minister Hasina recently approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for assistance to build a road to Myanmar from its southeastern city Cox’s Bazar to improve regional connectivity.

Dhaka has for some time been pursuing talks with Myanmar and China for land access to China’s Kunming province.

The issue came up during a meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had with Sultan Hafeez Rahman, director-general of the South Asian Department of Asian Development Bank last week.

She emphasised the need for further strengthening regional cooperation and connectivity for poverty reduction and accelerated development among the South Asian nations.

Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and other South Asian countries seek to increase bilateral and regional connectivity.