FM thanks China for assistance

Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad, now on a visit to China, called on Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and Deputy Prime Minister Qian Qichen yesterday, reports APB.

The Foreign Minister delivered a personal letter from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to her Chinese counterpart, extending invitation to visit Bangladesh, according to a message received in Dhaka.

While discussing matters of mutual interests, the Foreign Minister thanked the Chinese leaders for extending assitance to Bangladesh for the constructin of the proposed International Convention Centre to host the next NAM summit and support Bangladesh's candidature to the UN Security council.

Huge trade imbalance existing between the two countries and the ways to reverse it also came up for discussion.

Azad briefed the Chinese leaders about the success of the present government in various sectors.

The FM is scheduled to return home winding up his five-day visit to China.