Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday after her bilateral talks with Premier Li Qiang and before ending her four-day official visit, the first after she returned to power for the fourth consecutive term.
The meetings will receive significant attention as Bangladesh seeks substantial developmental support from China, while Beijing aims to maintain its influence in the region with Dhaka's backing, amid volatility in neighbouring Taiwan.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud maintained that Bangladesh believes in ‘one China policy’ which means that there is one China and Taiwan is a part of China.
“India, as well as the US, will certainly monitor the visit and these meetings. But all will depend on our domestic strength and diplomatic capabilities in managing these relationships,” former Ambassador M Humayun Kabir told Dhaka Tribune.
“China understands that Bangladesh must maintain its relationship with India, our closest neighbour.”
PM Hasina reiterates call to China to help repatriate Rohingyas to MyanmarHe said China is crucial for Bangladesh’s development and economic future “due to our complementary needs”.
“We require finance and technology, and China has the surplus to provide these. Our expectation is to receive support across various areas, including trade, budget support, and development projects such as the MRT and regional port development at Payra. However, the effectiveness of these funds will depend on how well we can utilize them,” he added
Since President Xi Jinping's visit to Bangladesh in 2016, Bangladesh has received $8 billion. The visit elevated the Beijing-Dhaka ties to the strategic level.
Foreign Minister Mahmud said with the prime minister’s visit, the ties would go to the next new level.
The Rohingya issue is also significant for Bangladesh.
“I do not anticipate any breakthroughs at this moment due to Myanmar's internal problems. Both Bangladesh and China are affected by Myanmar's issues—Bangladesh for one set of reasons and China for another, as they have investments there. Nevertheless, it is China that can significantly assist us in resolving the Rohingya crisis,” said the former ambassador.
“In return, China may seek Bangladesh's support for the One-China policy, especially given their ongoing issues with Taiwan, which are intensifying,” he believed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday held a meeting with the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a very important wing of the Chinese Communist Party, led by its Chairman Wang Hunning, at the Great Hall of the People here in Beijing.
During the meeting, different bilateral issues, including Rohingya, reducing the trade gap between Bangladesh and China, the celebration of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries in meaningful way next year, measures to enhance their bilateral ties and the contact between Bangladesh Awami League and Chinese Communist Party came up for discussion, said the foreign minister in a media briefing.
PM Hasina told the Chinese delegation that the Rohingyas, forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, have been living in shelters in Bangladesh for over six and a half years and no initiative has not been taken yet for their repatriation to Myanmar.
"Help us send the Rohingyas back to Myanmar," Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud quoted the prime minister as saying during e the meeting.
"This issue was discussed (during the meeting) with the utmost importance," the foreign minister added.
The meeting with Xi Jinping is scheduled to last for 40 minutes, according to the Prime Minister’s itinerary.
Both leaders last met on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa last year.
Bangladesh and China also expect to sign and renew 20 to 22 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) after the bilateral talk with the Chinese Premier.
The MoUs on cooperation in the economic and banking sector, trade and investment, digital economy, infrastructure development, assistance in disaster management, construction of 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China friendship bridges, export of agricultural products from Bangladesh and people to people connectivity are likely to be signed, the Foreign Minister said before leaving Dhaka.
“China is committed to being an important partner in our infrastructure and economic development. We are hopeful that the upcoming visit will be successful and fruitful, taking the strategic relations to the next level,” he said.
The Chinese foreign ministry earlier said: "China stands ready to work with Bangladesh through this visit to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen political mutual trust, further synergize development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, accelerate the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and elevate our bilateral relations to a new level."
The prime minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Thursday.
