Hu Shi Sheng, director of South Asian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, made this observation at a seminar titled 'Sino-Bangladesh Relations' organised by the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) at its auditorium in the city.

Hu also said that the massive trade imbalance between the two countries is "not so conducive to furthering trade relations". According to 2006 figures, China-Bangladesh trade stands at $3.2 billion annually.

In 2006, Bangladeshi exports to China were $88 milliion while Bangladeshi import of Chinese goods was over $2 billiion.

The academic added that it is also important that greater care needs to be taken to preserve a delicate China-India-Bangladesh relationship, as cosier Sino-Bangladesh relations are provoking suspicious and alarming reactions in Indian academia and the media.

Hu said the Chinese perceive that Islamic militancy is strong in Bangladesh, a perception that was dispelled by his visit here. He felt the two countries need to share greater security information to dispel this widely believed perception since it prevents Chinese investments in Bangladesh.

Hu also stressed the need to build greater people-to-people contact as he felt it was too low to form a strong basis of a bilateral relationship. He also called for developing greater Chinese and Bengali language skills in order to strengthen ties.

Hu said both trade and people-to-people contacts would be strengthened by Bangladesh's commitment to Trans-Asian rail and road links.

He also hoped that China would open up its markets for Bangladeshi products, especially by giving free-market access to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.

Lailufar Yasmin from Dhaka University also gave a presentation, stressing that Bangladesh can take advantage of a new posture of China in international politics, such as its commitment to global 'equality and mutual benefits'.

BEI Chairman Farooq Sobhan and Chinese Ambassador Zhen Qingdian were also present at the seminar.