Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping concluded a two-day visit to Bangladesh that included talks on improving defense ties and building a deepwater port, according to reports.
Xi, who is tipped to succeed Hu Jintao as president, headed to Laos, New Zealand and Australia as China seeks to boost its influence.
Xi met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and in talks with Khaleda Zia, chairperson of Bangladesh's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Xi lauded what Zia has done to promote the Sino-Bangladeshi relationship.
The Dhaka visit was a "very important" sign of expanding relations between the two nations, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters ahead of the trip.
An economic cooperation deal is due to be signed, under which China would donate US$5.5 million to the South Asian nation, Moni said.
Dhaka has also sought Chinese help to build a multi-billion-dollar port on a southeastern island and to launch a telecommunications satellite, she said.
