UPDATE - China to give $137M in economic assistance to Bangladesh

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK​​​​​​​

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China will provide economic assistance of 1 billion yuan ($137 million) to Dhaka, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The move came as Chinese Premier Li Qiang met his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, who concluded a three-day trip to China, Bangladesh's largest trading partner.

Earlier in the day, China’s President Xi Jinping hosted the Bangladeshi premier at the Great Hall of the People in the capital Beijing.

"China cherishes the profound friendship forged by leaders of the older generation of the two countries," Xi told Hasina.

The two sides also elevated ties to the level of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

*SM Najmus Sakib contributed from Dhaka