The call was made when an 11-member Chinese trade delegation met leaders of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) at the Chamber Building in Dhaka.

Wang Chao, first vice-governor of Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture of Yunnan province of China, led the Chinese trade delegation.

Speaking at the meeting, MCCI President Kutubuddin Ahmed also said road link should be developed on a priority basis. "We, therefore, strongly urge the two governments to give priority to improvement of road connections."

The air link between Dhaka and Kunming is a major leap forward for expanding trade cooperation between the two countries, he said.

Echoing the remarks made by the MCCI president, Wang Chao said the purpose of Chinese delegation's visit to Bangladesh is to explore potential for increasing trade volume through land routes along with air and sea routes.

"It is possible to set up a direct road link and we would like to co-operate with Bangladesh in this regard," he observed.

Kutubuddin said there is scope for collaboration in product diversification and production of high value added fashion products and ladies wear for export purposes.

"We are keen to help promote joint ventures in light engineering, textile, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals sectors, as we know that Chinese technologies are well known," he said.

"Besides, we feel that such collaborations with appropriate arrangements for buy-back and third country export can help balance the trade between our two countries," the MCCI president went on.

Bangladesh's trade deficit with China amounted to more than US$ 1087 million in 2003-04, he mentioned.

The MCCI has institutional linkages through memoranda of understanding (MoU) concluded with leading trade bodies of different countries, he said. "If you agree, we are prepared to send a high-powered delegation to establish necessary contact and then conclude such an MoU with a suitable trade body in your prefecture."

Members of the Chinese delegation include Guo Wenlong, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Dehong prefecture, Yang Gosheng, director of Foreign Affairs office of Dehong, Pai Zhike, director of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation Bureau, Hou Yonghan, section chief of the People's Government of Dehong Prefecture, and Yang Lijun, section chief of the Foreign Affairs office of Dehong Prefecture.

Bangladesh's export to China declined from US$48.51 million in FY1997-98 to $45.52 million in FY2003-04 while import from China increased from $592 million to $1197.68 million over the same period.