Dhaka: China has offered to establish a Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar-Myanmar-Kunming road link, aiming to boost connectivity among the three countries.

The offer came when a Chinese delegation, led by its Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, met Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his secretariat office on Tuesday afternoon.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Muhith said the delegation informed him that they are highly interested to go for Dhaka-Myanmar-Kunming road connectivity for mutual benefits.

‘I’ve told them you’re so lucky…we approved a project today for constructing a road up to Ghundhum (near Myanmar border) in our part,’ he added.     

Earlier in the day, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the construction of ‘Bangladesh-Myanmar Moitree Road (Balukhali-Ghundhum) construction’ with an outlay of Tk 54.55 crore.

The proposed road will be constructed at Ukhia upazila in Cox’s Bazar district and Nikhonchhari upazila in Bandarban district.

The project aims to establish direct road link with Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries like China and Thailand improving trade and political relations with Myanmar, increasing security through improving road connectivity in the bordering areas, ensuring tourism development and developing internal road communication.

About Bangladesh’s relations with China, Muhith said the area of cooperation between Bangladesh and China is expanding day by day.

He said the government has sent a number of project proposals to China after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to China, and all the proposals have already been accepted by the Chinese government.

The proposals include construction of bridges and tunnels.  

The Finance Minister said the Chinese delegation also informed him that they have now many competitors in Bangladesh who are looking for space to invest here as an investment-friendly atmosphere is currently prevailing in the country.