Wan Jifei, vice-president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said China would continue to develop trade ties with Bangladesh and encourage Chinese businessmen to invest more in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi businessmen are welcome to promote their products in China, Wan said.

China-Bangladesh trade has increased rapidly in recent years. It generated US$972 million in 2001 and US$518 million in the first half of 2002, up 10.04 percent over the corresponding period last year, according to statistics from China's customs.

Mahnmudur Rahman, director of the Bangladeshi Board of Investment, said several Chinese business giants had invested in Bangladesh, such as the Haier Group, and become important trade partners with his country.

He expressed hope that more Chinese entrepreneurs would invest in Bangladesh in such areas as infrastructure, textiles, electronics, information technology and ceramics.

A major trade fair between China and Bangladesh was to be held in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, next May and over 200 Chinese entrepreneurs had been invited to attend, Rahman revealed.

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2002)