Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain will pay a bilateral visit to China this month which is described as a very important first bilateral visit after the formation of the interim government.
Regional geopolitical strategy, trade balance, investment and sustainable solution to Rohingya crisis will be on the focus, keeping strategies to protect regional interests in mind.
However, international relations analysts are dubbing this visit to China as ‘new message in the country’s diplomacy’.
“Choosing China for the first bilateral visit is a new message,” analysts say, adding: “The South Asian country’s foreign policy is not dependent on any specific country.”
After the change in the country politics following the July-August uprising, Dhaka took the challenges of maintaining geopolitical balance. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus is moving forward with the issue of protecting the country’s interests as well as maintaining regional stability in mind.
It is known that the foreign adviser will go to Beijing on a four-day official visit starting on January 20 at the invitation of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. Dhaka pays special importance to the visit.
The foreign adviser will call on the Chinese foreign minister on January 21. Apart from this, he will also exchange views with the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party.
According to sources, Bangladesh has received only eight billion dollars of 25 billion dollars agreement signed by Chinese president Xi Jinping, but Bangladesh wants to speed up the flow of the funds.
In addition, Bangladesh will seek to reduce the interest rate from two percent to a reasonable level and cancel the loan commitment fee of 0.5 percent. The important projects too will be discussed in the meeting with Touhid Hossain’s Chinese counterpart.
During the meeting, China will emphasize on inclusion of Bangladesh in the Global Development Initiatives (GDI).
“In the minister-level meeting, agriculture, education, business and sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis will be discussed,” said a source in the foreign ministry, on condition of anonymity. “Besides, trade imbalance elimination and investment seeking will get importance in the meeting.”
International relation analysts said: “As a distance created in the India-Bangladesh relation after August 5, Bangladesh wants to bridge the gap with China, focusing on regional geopolitical strategy.”
“On the other hand, the United States and its allies are trying to corner Beijing from all sides, in this context; South Asia has become very important for China, expert continued, adding that it will help Bangladesh in getting desired response.
Yao Wen, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, said that his country is ready to meet the needs of the Bangladeshi government and people. He told media that the visit of the Bangladeshi foreign adviser to China is significant for the development of relations between the two countries.
“The visit will discuss bilateral relations, political cooperation, celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and international and regional issues of common interest.”
Being asked about the issue, Shahab Enam Khan, Professor of International Relations Department at Jahangirnagar University, told Bangladesh Pratidin the current government will prioritize the interests of Bangladesh in the foreign policy.
“China and the United States are directly involved in our national interests,” he said, adding that this is why the national interests will be given much importance.
However, it remains to be seen how much responsibility the political governments will show to sustain this foreign policy, he continued.
Translated by Afsar Munna
