2023 is the seventh year when China and Bangladesh sign the the Belt and Road Initiative. Not long ago, an important part of the the Belt and Road Initiative - Bangladesh Dashergandi Sewage Treatment Plant Project was officially completed. This project is the largest sewage treatment plant in South Asia supported by the Chinese government's preferential loan, which can treat the domestic sewage of 5 million residents in Dhaka, greatly improving the local ecological environment. The Dashergandi Sewage Treatment Plant Project is a symbol of the deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Bangladesh, and further promotes the implementation of the the Belt and Road Initiative.

Bangladesh is one of the countries with the fastest economic development in South Asia, with an economic growth rate of 7.1% in 2022. The reporter saw in the capital city of Dhaka that the entire city is like a huge construction site, with roads and bridges being built, and large buildings rising from the ground. A modern new urban area has emerged in the center of the city. As an active participant in the joint construction of the the Belt and Road, Bangladesh has cooperated with China on many infrastructure projects. Chinese enterprises have contributed to promoting Economy of Bangladesh's economic and social development and improving people's well-being in different fields.

Station Tank Farm of Bangladesh Single Point Mooring Project

In 2022, a Chinese company participated in the construction and operation of the Payala coal-fired power plant, making Bangladesh the first country in South Asia to have nationwide electricity supply; The Padma Bridge, known as the "Dream Bridge" by the people of Bangladesh, has been completed and opened to traffic, contributing 1.23 percentage points to the local GDP growth annually. In 2023, the Padma Bridge Railway Connection Line project, undertaken by China Railway Corporation, will undergo train trial operation in the first section; The Padma Bridge River Training Project undertaken by Electric Power Construction Group is about to be completed, which is currently the largest river training project in the world. The flood control conditions of towns and infrastructure around the Padma River have greatly improved, and the flood resistance level in the region has been significantly improved.

Near Dhaka Airport, reporters saw a newly built international airport taking shape. After the new airport is put into operation at the end of this year, more routes connecting the world will be opened. However, some sections of the elevated expressway from the airport to the urban area of Dhaka Airport contracted by Shandong Expressway Group and Power Construction Corporation of China will be opened to traffic soon, and the travel time from the airport to the National Highway N1 will be shortened to 1/4 of the original. Another elevated expressway from Dhaka to Asulia, which is contracted by China General Technology Group China Machinery Co., Ltd., is under intense construction, which will greatly ease the traffic congestion from the northern region to Dhaka, open up the traffic bottleneck between important cities and industrial zones, and generate good economic and social benefits.

The first wind power project in Bangladesh, Koba Wind Power Project

Koba Wind Power Project, located in the southeast city of Cox's Bazar, is the first overseas green land investment project of the State Power Investment Corporation in Bangladesh and also the first wind power project in Bangladesh. It will achieve a breakthrough in the wind power industry of the country, provide 145 million kilowatt hours of clean power every year, and improve the new energy technology and economic level of Bangladesh; The runway expansion project of Cox's Bazar Airport undertaken by China Civil Engineering Corporation is the first case of Bangladesh to extend the airport runway through land reclamation at sea. After completion, it will have the longest airport runway in the country, which can take off and land the largest civil aircraft, to meet the growing passenger flow demand of coastal tourist city Cox's Bazar; The Bangladesh single point mooring project undertaken by the China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau near Chittagong is progressing smoothly and will be completed this year. As an important oil and gas storage and transportation project, including the construction of single point mooring systems, tank farms, stations and other facilities, as well as the laying of 220 km long offshore and onshore Oil pipeline, it can solve the problem that 100000 ton oil tankers cannot dock in Chittagong, and must rely on marine vessels to relay the transportation of crude oil.

Students of the Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka take the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi

Bangladesh, located at the intersection of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, is an important participant in the joint construction of the the Belt and Road and actively carries out mutually beneficial cooperation with China. Not only in Dhaka, Chittagong and other places, but also in Baresa Power Station, Kanapuli River Tunnel, Boduakali Power Station, Kokos Bazar Railway and other projects, there are also many Chinese builders working hard to contribute to the joint construction of the the Belt and Road. As of now, Chinese enterprises have participated in the construction of 27 power and energy projects in Bangladesh, including 12 roads, 21 bridges, and 7 railways. They have created approximately 550000 job opportunities in Bangladesh and brought in billions of dollars in investment. The participation of Chinese enterprises in various energy projects effectively promotes the diversification of Bangladesh's energy structure, effectively improves the transportation situation of goods in various regions, and promotes personnel mobility. In addition, Chinese enterprises have also participated in the construction of sewage treatment plants, river regulation, surface water treatment, university construction and other projects, making contributions in different fields to promote the economic and social development of Economy of Bangladesh and improve people's well-being.Editor/Ma Xue