Dhaka's Chief Advisor of the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has left Dhaka for Beijing at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He departed around 1:00 PM on Wednesday (March 26th) on a special flight of China Southern Airlines, confirmed by the Chief Advisor's press wing.
CA to Attend Boao Forum and Meet President Xi Jinping
During his visit from March 26th to 29th, Professor Yunus is scheduled to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) conference in Hainan province on Thursday, March 27th, where he will deliver a speech at the opening plenary session.
A meeting with Ding Xuexiang, the Executive Vice Premier of China's State Council, is also anticipated.
On March 28th, Dr. Yunus will hold a meeting with President Xi Jinping at the 'Great Hall of the People' in Beijing. The same day, he will visit a high-tech enterprise of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
On March 29th, Peking University will confer an honorary doctorate degree upon him, and he is expected to address the university. Following this, he is scheduled to return to Dhaka from Beijing on a Chinese flight.
Deals and Discussions on Trade, Investment
Analysts consider this the first significant bilateral visit at the highest level of the interim government. While Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain stated on Sunday that no agreements would be signed during this trip, sources indicate that six to eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, alongside four potential declarations.
These declarations could include China announcing $1-2 billion in loan assistance for several projects in Bangladesh, including financing However, they believe that the MoUs and preliminary initiatives undertaken during this visit could pave the way for future governments to pursue these collaborations further.
When asked about the Chief Advisor's expectations and message for the China visit, Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin stated that their expectations are multifaceted.
He emphasized China's role as Bangladesh's largest trading partner and a major development partner, noting the growing people-to-people cooperation and the exploration of new areas of collaboration, including health.
Regarding the comparison between this visit and the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China last July, Jasim Uddin highlighted the strong friendship between the two countries, with Bangladesh valuing its relationship with China and vice versa. He suggested that choosing China for the Chief Advisor's first bilateral visit sends a significant message.
He further mentioned that the meeting between the Chief Advisor and the Chinese President is not agenda-based, allowing the top leadership to choose topics of mutual interest. However, he noted that water management, including discussions on the Teesta project, and military cooperation are areas of interest for both sides.
Rohingya Issue Expected
On the Rohingya repatriation issue, Jasim Uddin stated that Bangladesh will convey its position on the situation in Myanmar to China and explore ways to move forward with repatriation based on the perspectives of both countries.
Future Cooperation
Regarding future cooperation in the health sector, the Foreign Secretary mentioned the increased collaboration following the Foreign Affairs Advisor's visit, with the first group from Bangladesh having already visited Kunming, China, and expressing satisfaction with the healthcare facilities there.
He added that four hospitals in Kunming have been designated for Bangladeshi patients. Discussions at the highest level will focus on other aspects of health cooperation, including the potential establishment of a specialized Chinese hospital in Bangladesh.
He informed that MoUs on human resource development, economic and technical cooperation, cultural and sports assistance, and cooperation between media outlets are likely to be signed during the visit.
The potential declarations could encompass loan announcements, economic investment and economic zone-related announcements, and health-related initiatives.
The bilateral meeting between the Chief Advisor and President Xi Jinping is scheduled for the morning of March 28th at the Great Hall of the People in China.
