China is seriously considering a request from Dhaka to lower its interest rates of its credits for Bangladesh, Chinese ambassador Yao Wen said here today, a day ahead of Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain’s scheduled visit to his country.

   According to a Bangladesh foreign ministry statement, the ambassador called on  Hossain and “apprised the Foreign Adviser that China is seriously considering to lower down its interest rates for Bangladesh”. 

   It said Beijing was ready as well to sign an implementation plan on exchange of hydrological information with Bangladesh in line with a previous request from Dhaka.

   “China is the all-weather, time-tested friend of Bangladesh which firmly stands with the people of Bangladesh irrespective of its governments,” the statement quoted the ambassador as saying during his meeting with Hossain.

   Hossain is set to fly to Beijing on Monday on a five-day official visit, the first ever by the foreign affairs adviser equivalent to minister of the interim government.

   “The Ambassador also informed the Foreign Adviser that during the upcoming visit Chinese side is ready to sign implementation plan on exchange of hydrological information with Bangladesh which was previously sent by Bangladesh side,” it read.

   The adviser, on the other hand, requested China to designate at least three to four top notch hospitals in Kunming, close to Bangladesh territory, to provide better medical treatment to Bangladeshis.

   Hossain said Bangladesh was also ready to provide land and other logistics for setting-up a full-fledged tertiary level Chinese hospital in Purbachal on the outskirts of Dhaka.

   “The Chinese ambassador said that China will do everything for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh,” the statement said. 

   The ambassador touched upon the issues to be discussed during the official talks led by Hossain and the Chinese foreign minister.

   According to the statement both the envoy and the adviser expressed their hope Hossain’s China tour to open up a new chapter of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

   The visit coincides with the establishment of the 50th anniversary of Dhaka-Beijing diplomatic ties while the adviser said, his visit would strengthen deep understanding, friendship, and vibrant partnership advancing the strategic as well as technical cooperation between the two nations.

   Hossain told the envoy that Dhaka expects a “very strong” and “proactive” Chinese role for Rohingyas repatriation to their homeland in Myanmar as they were forced to take makeshift refuge in Bangladesh.

   In response, the statement said, the ambassador said that China would continue its support for the early repatriation of Rohingyas to their motherland in Myanmar. 

   Yao reaffirmed that China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bangladesh and reiterated that China would continue its support for the stability, reforms, and democratic transition and development initiatives of Bangladesh.
 
   The Foreign Adviser said that Bangladesh appreciates 100% Duty Free Quota Free market access of Bangladeshi products to China and expressed his hope that this market access would continue till 2029 after the post-LDC period for three years.

   In response, the Ambassador said that along with mangoes, this year Bangladeshi guava and jackfruits would also have the market access to China.
 
   The adviser asked for Chinese high tech energy efficient supports for developing fruits storage and preservation capacity in Bangladesh.
 
   Hossain also sought Chinese support for adding up more railway passenger coaches under capacity building initiatives of Bangladesh Railways.

   The Foreign adviser’s official visit to China, scheduled for January 20-24, marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh-China relations according to foreign relations experts and comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. 

   Hossain would also deliver speeches at the China Institute of International Studies and the Shanghai Institute of International Studies and scheduled to meet business representatives in Shanghai to promote Chinese investment in Bangladesh, foreign ministry officials said.