Beijing assures Dhaka of releasing US$ 1 million for PPD

China has assured Bangladesh of releasing the remaining US$ 1 million of the total US$ 2 million it pledged for the construction of the secretariat of Partners in Population and Development (PPD) in Dhaka.

Chinese Vice Minister for National Health and Family Planning Commission Cui Li gave the assurance when Bangladesh State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque raised the issue in a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday, according to message received here today.

The Bangladesh state minister thanked the Chinese government for funding US$ 2 million for the construction of the PPD secretariat in Dhaka and requested to release the remaining US$ 1 million at the earliest.

In response, the Chinese vice minister assured the Bangladesh state minister of releasing the fund as soon as possible.

Cui Li opined that the construction of the secretariat building should be finished at an early date.

"As the current chair of PPD, China would be happy to take part in the inaugural ceremony of the secretariat building," she said.

Pointing out the existing excellent relationship between the two countries, the state minister said the landmark visit of the Chinese president to Bangladesh last year took the ties to a new height.

Zahid Maleque sought Chinese investment in Bangladesh`s health sector, especially for the construction of new hospitals.

He also invited the Chinese vice minister to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

The Chinese vice minister invited Zahid Maleque to attend an international conference on `Silk Route Initiative and Health` to be held in China on August 18.

Zahid Maleque is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the 50th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) being held at the UN headquarters from April 3-7.

Source : BSS