DHAKA, April 8: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao announced here on Friday that his government would give subsidy to their businessmen to increase import of Bangladeshi goods under a package of measures.“China would adopt three-pronged measures, including the subsidised import, to augment trade with Bangladesh,” said Wen Jiabao before concluding his two-day tour. “The two other steps will be reducing tariffs and enhancing understanding between the business communities of the two countries, especially through arranging more trade fairs.”

The Chinese premier also assured the local business community that his government would “reduce tariffs on some Bangladeshi goods.”

Admitted that Bangladesh is still suffering trade deficit with China, Mr Jiabao said: “But it is not because Bangladeshi products are not competitive or of low standard -— it is because the potentialities are yet to be fully tapped.”

Striking a positive note on expansion of the Dhaka-Beijing friendship relations, Mr Jiabao mentioned the agreements signed between the two sides after official talks on Thursday.

He said Bangladesh needed development of infrastructure and China had the expertise. He also cited the strength China of modern times has got in terms of technology and machinery.

Mr Jiabao was critical of the conditions imposed by some developed countries regarding the import of goods from developing countries, although they are the proponents of free trade. “This,” he said, “is not in line with the free trade (regime).”

Mentioning his trip to the countryside of Bangladesh eleven years ago, the Chinese premier noted with ‘happiness’ the positive changes that took place there in the last few years.