China will import jute, leather and other goods worth US$ 4.55 million from Bangladesh under accords signed here yesterday.

An official announcement said the visiting Chinese Buying Mission signed five import agreements with their Bangladesh counterparts with a view to reducing trade gap, which was over US$ 500 million annually in China's favour as of 1996-97.

Exports from Bangladesh to China declined by 11 million dollars in 1999-2000 fiscal year.

The mission, a follow-up to the visit of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, told Bangladesh Commerce Secretary earlier in the day that China is considering matters of awarding duty-free access to 34 selected Bangladeshi items.

The Chinese delegates met the Export Promotion Bureau, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and visited some leather and jute mills during their stay since February 28.

Mission leader Wang Qihui said the sending of the mission is a reflection of Chinese government's keenness to increase imports from Bangladesh. "But balancing trade requires joint efforts from both sides," he said.

Chinese importers are willing to buy commodities from friendly countries like Bangladesh, if they can supply quality goods at competitive prices, he added.

Bangladesh exported goods worth 56 million dollars to China while imported commodities worth 575 million dollars from China in 1996-97 fiscal.