Dhaka: Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to start at the earliest the construction of the proposed road, which would lead to better connectivity between the two neighbours and is expected to eventually link the former to China.

"The strategic location of Bangladesh grants us a legitimate claim to act as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia, and we solicit extended cooperation from our friendly neighbour," Chief Adviser of the interim government Fakhruddin Ahmed told a banquet hosted in honour of visiting Myanmar leader Vice-general General Maung Aye last night.

Officials said during bilateral talks with Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of the junta ruled country, Ahmed proposed a tripartite meeting involving China to discuss the proposed tri-nation road.

Bangladesh is to bear the estimated USD 20 million cost for constructing the proposed 23-kilometre road inside the Myanmar territory as it is expected to link the country eventually with China, they said.

Dhaka has been trying to promote the idea of the tri-nation road link for the past two years. Officials said that Beijing had welcomed the initiative when Ahmed visited China last month.

The chief adviser said that Myanmar was Bangladesh s gateway to the ASEAN and as a new member of the ASEAN Regional Forum Bangladesh looked forward to working closely with Myanmar.

Earlier, emergency-ruled Bangladesh rolled out a red carpet as Maung Aye arrived Dhaka along with seven cabinet ministers on a three-day state visit, expected to boost Bangladesh s business relations with its neighbour.

Source : PTI