15 March 2004	Monday	23 Muharram 1425

DHAKA, March 14: China has requested Bangladesh to close down Taipei's trade representative office recently set up here. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Chai Xi handed over on Sunday a letter from Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing to his Bangladeshi counterpart M. Morshed Khan requesting the latter to close down the Taiwanese office.

The Taiwanese secured approval to set up the office from the Board of Investment of Bangladesh, reportedly without the knowledge of the country's foreign affairs ministry.

"I have delivered a letter from the Chinese foreign minister to your foreign minister regarding the sensitive issue now in the press," Mr Chai Xi told newsmen after his more than two hours' meeting at the foreign office.

In reference to the historical bond between Bangladesh and China, he said: "We have requested your foreign minister to take the matter very seriously and also to take effective measures to close down the office."