Dhaka: China has agreed to help fund the construction costs of a large stretch of the Burma-Bangladesh Friendship Road, the Bangladesh Communication Ministry said on Sunday.
 
The announcement came during a visit of the Chief Adviser to the Bangladesh caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, to China last week.
 
"There is positive response by China to construct almost 73 percent of the 151 kilometre Bangladesh-Burma Friendship Road," said an official from the Communication Ministry.
 
The cost of 110 kilometeres of the road from Kyin Chaung to Kyauk Taw in Burma, that China has agreed to bear, is estimated at US $128 million. The road will be constructed in two phases. The first phase will include construction of 43 kilometers from Cox's Bazaar to Kyin Chaung; Cox's Bazaar lies 20 kilometers inside Bangladesh while Kyin Chaung is 23 kilometres inside Burma.
 
Bangladesh will bear the US $27 million price tag for the 43 kilometres to be constructed in the first phase.
 
Bangladesh and Burma signed a deal in 2006 agreeing to construct a trans-border highway. Bangladesh hopes its port city Chittagong will be connected with China's growing business hub in Kunming through the friendship road.
 
Bangladesh officials said the road will boost regional cooperation by strengthening economic and trade relations with Burma and other Southeast Asian countries.
 
Burma is also preparing for construction of the road and its authorized official, Western Command Commander General Thaung Aye, visited the western border town of Taungbro on Saturday to inspect the area where the road will be constructed.