DHAKA, Jan 12: Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Saturday promised to narrow the trade gap between his country and Bangladesh during an official visit aimed at boosting economic ties, it was reported.

During a visit to the Bangladesh parliament complex in Dhaka he told Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar that Beijing would follow preferential trade policies to bridge the trade imbalance with Bangladesh, the official BSS news agency said.

The Chinese authorities will be sending purchase missions to Bangladesh soon to narrow the gaps, Zhu told BSS, admitting trade balance now was tilted towards China.

Bilateral trade stood at $714.2 million in 1999. Bangladesh’s exports to China were just $14.2 million against an import bill of 700 million dollars.

Foreign Secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said that Beijing had decided to allow duty-free trade of jute and jute products to China which could also help narrow the trade gap.

China had backed Pakistan when Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) fought its war of independence in 1971 and only recognised the new country in 1975.

Afterwards he joined his host Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for the opening of a Chinese-funded $24 million international conference centre in the capital, officials said.

The centre was built for the 13th Non-Aligned Movement conference which was due to be held in Dhaka, before the Bangladesh government last year said it could not afford to host the event.

Zhu Saturday met several Bangladeshi ministers and main opposition leader and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed Saturday.

He is the second major foreign official to visit Dhaka since Zia’s Islamist-allied coalition came to power in October, after British Prime Minister Tony Blair came last week.

On Friday, Zhu and Zia held official talks focussing on extending economic ties which resulted in the signing of seven agreements on defence and economic cooperation.

Under one agreement, China will provide a $6.5 million grant to construct a bridge, officials said, adding others related to assistance in water, sewerage, power and cultural sectors.

Beijing has traditionally had close ties with Dhaka, funding a number of construction projects in Bangladesh and providing military equipment and training.

On Friday Zhu said the two countries had an equal, cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship since Dhaka and Beijing established diplomatic relations 26 years ago.

Sino-Bangladesh relations have withstood the test of times with the concerted efforts of both the two governments and the two peoples, he said, adding that friendship between them was conducive to peace, stability and development in the region.

Officials here earlier said China was a traditional friend of Bangladesh and Zhu’s visit will help further our economic ties.

The last senior Chinese leader to visit Bangladesh was the chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, Li Peng, in 1999.

Zhu will travel on to India on Sunday on the last leg of his eight day South Asian trip.—AFP