Dhaka, March 26 (IANS): Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, departed from Dhaka on Wednesday for a four-day official visit to China. During his visit, he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 28 to discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation.
Accompanying Yunus on the visit are Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Road Transport and Bridges; and Railways Advisor Muhammad Fouzul, High Representative to the Chief Advisor Kabir Khan, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Khalilur Rahman, Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed, and Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
This visit marks Yunus’s first official trip to China since the interim government assumed power in August 2024, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Shortly after the transition, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen extended an invitation to Yunus to visit China at a mutually convenient time.
Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin stated that several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, covering key sectors such as human resource development, economic and technical assistance, cultural and sports cooperation, and media collaboration. Additionally, announcements related to economic investments and the development of economic zones are anticipated.
This visit follows the five-day trip of Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain to Beijing in January 2025, which was seen as a step toward strengthening China-Bangladesh relations amidst domestic turbulence. Bangladesh’s leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo previously reported that China had expressed initial concerns about its engagements in Bangladesh following the mass uprising in July 2024, particularly regarding the safety of Chinese personnel involved in mega infrastructure projects in the country.
Yunus’s visit to China also comes ahead of the upcoming Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit, scheduled to be held in Bangkok from April 2-4. At the summit, Bangladesh is set to assume the chairmanship of BIMSTEC, further underscoring its commitment to regional economic and technical cooperation.
The visit is expected to bolster Bangladesh-China diplomatic and economic ties, reinforcing Bangladesh’s strategic position within the region while securing valuable partnerships for its development agenda.
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