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Bangladesh seeks China's support in an array of development and livelihood projects and reduction in interest on Chinese loans from 3.0 per cent to 1.0-2.0 per cent for renewed bilateral cooperation.
Also placed a request for waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh where the East Asian country has been financing and executing numerous development major projects.
The proposals -- and some assurances from the Chinese side -- came during talks when Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in the Hainan Island on China coast on Thursday.
The two leaders led a bilateral meeting between the two nations, said a spokesman for the CA Office in Dhaka.
China and Bangladesh agreed to deepen their relationships as Beijing said it would extend full support to the Interim Government of the country.
The two countries also agreed to boost investment, trade and cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges as they mark 50 years of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
"President Xi Jinping attaches tremendous importance to your visit," Vice-Premier Ding said, adding that China hopes Bangladesh would prosper and grow under the leadership of Professor Yunus.
During the meeting, the head of interim government of Bangladesh reaffirmed the country's commitment to the One-China Policy and said Dhaka takes pride in being the first South Asian country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative or BRI.
The Chief Adviser also sought Beijing's help in facilitating the relocation of Chinese manufacturing industries, including ready-made garments, electric vehicles, light machinery, high-tech electronics, and chip-manufacturing and solar-panel industries to Bangladesh. Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said Beijing would extend duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi goods to China until 2028 - two years after Dhaka graduates from the status of Least- Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income one. "Beijing is also keen to start free-trade negotiations with Dhaka," he was quoted as saying.
The Executive Vice-Premier said his country would fund modernisation efforts of the Mongla seaport and the Dasherkandi Sewage project.
He mentioned that China last year signed a protocol to import mangoes from Bangladesh. Officials said Bangladesh's mango export to China would begin this summer. China would also import jackfruit and guava and other aquatic products in Its move to minimise huge trade imbalance against Dhaka, he said.
He assured that the Chinese government and its universities would grant more scholarships to Bangladeshi students. Several thousand Bangladeshi students are already studying in Chinese universities.
Also, the Vice-Premier assured of Chinese funding for the purchase of four oceangoing vessels for Dhaka's state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.
He said Beijing would foster dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in an effort to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
The Chief Adviser thanked the Chinese leadership for their support, saying that Thursday's meeting "marks another milestone in the ever-deepening Bangladesh-China partnership".
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, Energy, Rail and Road Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative of the Chief Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and BIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury were present during the meeting.