Pathway to brighter future: Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia (4)

Bangladesh: Brotherly relations through trade and commerce

Situated at the intersection of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Bangladesh is an active participant in the BRI and the first South Asian country that inked an inter-governmental BRI agreement with China.

Bilateral trade between the two countries continued to expand even against headwinds amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. From January to July 2021, the total combined value of imports and exports between China and Bangladesh reached $13 billion, a rise of 58.9 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, China's foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh jumped by about 200 percent year-on-year, adding up to a whopping $418 million. At the same time, Chinese entrepreneurs based in Bangladesh reported revenues of $3.18 billion, up 59.5 percent year-on-year.

Padma Multipurpose Bridge

Photo taken on Sept. 12, 2021 shows a view of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project under construction in Munshiganj on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo/Xinhua)

With the main bridge section spanning 6.15 kilometers in its length, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge is the largest and most challenging infrastructure project in Bangladesh's history. The bridge, which crosses over the Padma River, links the northeast and southwest sections of Bangladesh. It is also an important channel for connecting up with the "Trans-Asian Railway." Dubbed the "Dream Padama Bridge" of Bangladesh, the project brings to an end the practice of crossing the mighty Padma River between dozens of districts in southern Bangladesh and the capital of Dhaka only by ferries or boats. About 80 million Bangladeshis stand to benefit from this project.

Payra 1,320MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant

Photo shows a view of the China-funded 1,320 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant in Patuakhali, Bangladesh, March 21, 2022. (Photo/Xinhua)

The Payra 1,320MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant is Bangladesh's largest thermal power plant. The plant is expected to generate about 8.58 billion kWh of electricity annually. The opening of the powe rplant means that Bangladesh has now entered a new era after attaining 100 percent electricity coverage across the country.