"Our relations are moving towards maturity," he said during an interview with the UNB chief editor at his ministry.

Over three decades, Dawei noted, Bangladesh and China have carried out fruitful cooperation in political, economic, military and cultural fields.

To build on this durable bedrock of the China-Bangladesh relations, the Chinese leader made a four-point suggestion. The suggestions are: framing a mechanism of mutual visits to key sectors like energy and agriculture to maintain regular dialogue, deepening cooperation in economy and trade, expanding educational and cultural exchanges, and promoting bilateral cooperation on regional and international issues.

The minister also said that economic cooperation is an important basis for fostering the China-Bangladesh friendship as Dhaka is Beijing's third largest trade partner in South Asia.

He observed that bilateral trade and economic cooperation has grown rapidly, with the trade volume having approached $ 3.2-billion mark in 2006.

"But more potential remains to be tapped," Dawei said, adding that China has offered zero-tariff treatment to 84 categories of Bangladeshi export products and hoped Bangladesh would take full advantage of this trade preference.

He said China encourages mutual investment as it encourages competitive and reputable Chinese companies to invest in Bangladesh to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Looking over the entire spectrum of cooperation, Dawei observed education, tourism, human resource training and other fields hold promising prospects. China will continue to boost people-to-people exchanges with Bangladesh, he said.

The vice foreign minister said that as Bangladesh pursues 'Look East' policy, China is ready to work with Bangladesh to push forward regional cooperation.