China cos keen on deep-sea port project

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Tuesday, 05 April 2011

Author / Source : DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT

DHAKA, APR 4: Chinese companies and financial institutions are willing to take part in the construction of the proposed deep-sea port in Sonadia, and Beijing will encourage these companies to go about it in a commercial way, a Chinese diplomat said. “Discussions are going on between the governments of China and Bangladesh on the deep-sea port. Chinese companies and financial institutions have expressed their interest in the project,” Zhang Lei, chief of political section of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, said at a discussion on “The Political and Security Outlook for South Asia 2011-2020,” organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) on Monday.
“The Chinese government will encourage the companies and financial institutions to participate in the project in a commercial way. It is a mega project,” he added.  Later, the diplomat told The Independent, “We (Chinese government) are studying the possibilities of how we could contribute to the construction of the deep-sea port. Nothing has yet been finalised.”  Referring to a question about any possible development in China following the events in Middle East, Zhang Lei said the Communist Party of China is exploring ways to bring political reforms and adjust to new developments in society.  China does not compete with any countries, including India and US, for dominance over South Asia, he said and added that economic development does not necessarily mean military expansion.
James Larocco, retired ambassador director of US-based think tank Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), Prof. Robert Boggs of NESA, former ambassador Humayun Kabir, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans and NESA associate professor Col (Retd) John Jack Gill also addressed the programme. BEI president Farooq Sobhan chaired the event.
Larocco described Bangladesh as a strategic partner for the US and said Bangladesh has played a constructive role in fighting against terrorism.