Dhaka: China believes any disagreement between Bangladesh and Burma over demarcation of sea boundaries "will be resolved", Bangladesh ruling-party Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters on Sunday at the Zia International Airport on his return from Beijing.

"The Chinese government thinks the dispute between the two countries will be resolved," he said.

Burma and Bangladesh have a dispute over maritime boundaries since November 2008. Both sent warships to the disputed area claiming it as their territory. An armed confrontation almost took place as a result, but the tension was defused when Burma withdrew from the disputed waters.

Since then, the maritime boundary dispute remains unresolved between Bangladesh and Burma, with both countries still claiming the waters belong to them.

Bangladesh has submitted a letter of complaint to the United Nations, requesting a solution under the UN mandate, but the situation is yet to improve, sources said.

Since the maritime dispute broke out, relations between the two countries have suffered. Burma is reportedly preparing to return to the disputed area to explore for natural gas and is reinforcing its military strength on land in western Burma.

Ashra, who is also a local government minister, led a high-level Awami League delegation to China for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the republic, and discussed the issue with Chinese leaders during his six-day visit.

"We had successful discussions with high-ranking Chinese government officials," he said.

He said that Beijing's optimism was based on the fact that Bangladesh does not have any major disagreement with Burma.

The minister said the issues of a deep-sea port and construction of a highway and railroad through Burma to Kunming, China, were also discussed with Chinese officials.