Friday, April 8, 2005
Bangladesh, China to cooperate on nuclear energy
Reuters
Dhaka, April 7, 2005
Bangladesh and China have signed a key energy agreement that will see them cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and also explore coal mining.
"The accords were signed following official talks between the prime ministers of China, Wen Jiabao, and Bangladesh's Begum Khaleda Zia," Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told a news briefing.
Wen, heading a 102-member entourage including four senior ministers, arrived in Dhaka on Thursday on the second leg of a South Asian tour.
During the talks, China agreed to give Bangladesh concessional loans worth $600 million -- including $400 million for setting up digital telephone exchanges in cities and urban centres.
"The peaceful use of nuclear energy includes power generation, production of medicines and technology for treatment of patients," Hemayetuddin said.
China also agreed to finance production and management at a 64 million tonne capacity coal mine at Barapukuria in northern Dinajpur district.
The mine, developed by China National Import and Export Corporation at a cost of $251 million, went into production late last year.
The coal will be primarily used by a planned 250 megawatt power plant at Barapukuria, energy ministry officials said.
China has helped Bangladesh build power plants, bridges and highways since it established diplomatic ties in 1975.
Wen will also travel to Sri Lanka and India where he is due to hold talks aimed at ending lingering distrust between the world's two most populous countries.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.