DHAKA, 21 March 2005 — Bangladesh is all set to sign an agreement with China on the use of nuclear energy during the April 7-8 visit of the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said yesterday.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is expected to sign the agreement on behalf of the Bangladesh government.
The proposed agreement — Agreement between Bangladesh and China for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy — aims at strengthening the country’s capacity to explore and exploit nuclear minerals, available in coastal and hilly areas, said sources in the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
The agreement will also pave the way for the development of nuclear medicine and nuclear reactors for power generation, the sources added.
The Foreign Ministry will soon inform the Chinese Embassy here on the government’s stand on the agreement, said sources in the ministry.
Khaleda Leaves for Singapore
Meanwhile, Khaleda left yesterday for a three-day official visit to Singapore to promote trade and investment, the government said.
Khaleda was set to meet Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today for talks on investment, trade and manpower export, a government statement said yesterday.
Khaleda’s entourage includes Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan, as well as a 14-member business delegation.
Singapore is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner in southern Asia. Singaporean companies have invested a total of nearly $700 million here, according to official figures.
Bangladesh imports goods worth $1 billion from Singapore annually. Its exports to the city-state amount to only about $200 million a year.
