Direct Kunming-Chattogram road, Chinese investment in Teesta sought

Direct Kunming-Chattogram road, Chinese investment in Teesta sought

Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament Barrister Kayser Kamal has called for direct road connectivity between Kunming and Chattogram and increased Chinese investment and cooperation in Bangladesh's health, education, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture sectors, including investment in the Teesta barrage project.

He made the call while attending the 7th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum and the 10th China-South Asia Exposition in Kunming, at the invitation of the Governor of China's Yunnan Province, on Friday, June 12.

As part of his visit, the deputy speaker toured the Second Hospital of Kunming Medical University. He noted the vast opportunities for expanded cooperation between Bangladesh and China in the health sector. If accommodation, language support, reduced treatment costs, and visa facilities for Bangladeshi patients in Kunming's medical facilities are eased, Bangladeshis will choose Kunming for advanced treatment. He also called for opportunities for Bangladeshis to work in various positions, including doctors, technicians and nurses, in Kunming's hospitals.

Hospital Deputy Director General He Tao, Mr Wang Jiangkun, and Kunming Medical University President Professor Mr Xia Suyeshan assured that ongoing healthcare activities under joint China-Bangladesh initiatives would be further strengthened. They also committed to simplifying visas, accommodation and other matters for Bangladeshi students currently studying or wishing to study at Kunming Medical University.

Later, the parliamentary and trade delegation led by the deputy speaker held a bilateral meeting with Wang Ning, Secretary of the Communist Party of China's Yunnan Provincial Committee, at the Haizheng Garden Hotel.

Kamal informed the meeting that Bangladesh has returned to the democratic track after nearly a decade and a half through a free, fair and impartial election on February 12. He conveyed greetings to the CPC secretary on behalf of the newly elected prime minister and the people of Bangladesh, and gave the good news that the prime minister would visit China in the last week of June as part of his second overseas trip. The deputy speaker invited the CPC leader to visit Bangladesh, which he accepted.

During the meeting, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir called on China to increase investment in trade expansion, infrastructure, tourism, health, education, agriculture, leather processing and various other sectors. He thanked the Yunnan secretary for inviting the Bangladeshi parliamentary and trade delegation to the forum with special status.

The delegation later visited the historic Baothao village, located about 30 kilometres from Kunming. Over 80 per cent of the village's 744 residents are indigenous people who have been cultivating and caring for traditional medicinal plants for centuries.