Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor to Bangladesh's Interim Government, has reaffirmed his commitment to deepening the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China.
During a meeting with Wang Yubo, the Governor of China's Yunnan Province, at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Monday (21 April), Dr Yunus urged for closer ties between the two nations.
Dr Yunus remarked, "This is just the beginning. We are so close, yet so distant. Let's work together to close this gap. I hope you (Wang Yubo) will visit Bangladesh again. We aspire to be not just good neighbours, but closer neighbours."
The meeting saw both sides discussing a range of cooperative initiatives, including youth exchanges, healthcare, education, and trade.
Governor Yubo shared that a Chinese bank in Yunnan Province had already adopted the microcredit system introduced by Dr Yunus, benefiting many people in China. He also noted the shared social objectives between the two countries.
He proposed boosting trade in several sectors, such as vocational training, digital and language education, marine products, mangoes, and agricultural products. He stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people relations and bringing the regions closer together.
Dr Yunus agreed to all of Governor Yubo's proposals, expressing a desire to implement them more quickly than before. "We want to be close partners and true friends," he said.
On the topic of healthcare, Dr Yunus highlighted China's cooperation in medical tourism, specifically the establishment of four hospitals in Kunming for Bangladeshi patients. This partnership marks a new chapter in their collaboration.
Reflecting on his recent visit to China, Dr Yunus stated, "This visit marked a turning point in our relations." Governor Yubo added that his visit aimed to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
