Bangladesh seeks to strengthen ties with China ahead of Yunus's visit

Bangladesh Strengthens Ties with China Ahead of Yunus’s Visit

Government Preparations and Key Discussions

The government is making arrangements for Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s upcoming visit to China. To outline Bangladesh’s agenda for an important meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, an inter-ministerial meeting was held on Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired by the foreign secretary.

Discussions covered a range of topics, including political relations, trade, healthcare, water resources, foreign loans, agriculture, connectivity, and energy cooperation. The foreign ministry is in the process of finalizing specific issues to be presented during the talks.

A senior foreign ministry official confirmed that various ministries have submitted cooperation proposals, including a list of key projects, for review. In coordination with the Chief Adviser’s Office, Bangladesh’s stance for the bilateral meeting with President Xi will be determined.

Tentative Itinerary

Chief Adviser Yunus is set to depart for China on March 26 to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Conference in Hainan Province.

• March 27: He will deliver a speech at the conference’s opening plenary session and may meet with China’s Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.
• March 28: Yunus is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He will also visit a high-tech enterprise under Huawei and participate in an interview with a leading Chinese media outlet.
• March 29: Peking University will award him an honorary doctorate, where he will deliver a speech. He is expected to return to Dhaka the same day.

Health Cooperation

Many Bangladeshis seek medical treatment abroad, with India being a primary destination. However, visa-related complications have posed challenges, particularly for critically ill patients. In response, Bangladesh has requested China to designate four hospitals in Kunming exclusively for Bangladeshi patients, ensuring a supportive treatment environment.

The first batch of Bangladeshi patients left for China on Monday. Additionally, Dhaka has proposed that Beijing assist in establishing a world-class hospital in Bangladesh to enhance domestic healthcare while maintaining an option for treatment in China.

A government official emphasized that the success of this initiative will depend on patient experiences, as their feedback could shape future decisions. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is expected to take the necessary steps to advance the hospital project.

Trade and Economic Collaboration

Bangladesh is exploring opportunities to establish sunset industries—industries in decline in China—within its territory. This initiative would create employment opportunities in Bangladesh while enabling China to continue profiting from these industries.

In the agricultural sector, officials highlighted the need for mechanization to address declining interest in farming among younger generations. Bangladesh is seeking China’s support in adopting advanced agricultural technologies to enhance productivity with fewer workers.

Additionally, discussions are underway regarding the launch of a direct Chittagong-Kunming flight, with efforts being made to implement the plan.

Political Relations and Strategic Balance

As the world’s second-largest economy, China is striving to become a dominant global power. Bangladesh must navigate its position carefully among major regional and global powers to safeguard its national interests.

A government official noted that Bangladesh has been part of one of China’s four global initiatives since 2016.

China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, and during President Xi’s visit to Dhaka in 2016, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding. More recently, China introduced three additional initiatives: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Dhaka in 2022, Bangladesh was invited to join the Global Development Initiative. A foreign ministry official stated that the proposal is under review, and Bangladesh is carefully evaluating its potential implications before making a decision.