At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a three-day official visit to China from July 8 to 10.
Diplomats think that Sheikh Hasina’s visit will be ‘multidimensional’ considering geopolitics, the Rohingya crisis and the economic situation. Both countries have already taken preparations to sign at least 14 agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit. China likely announces loan facility to Bangladesh in some mega projects. Besides, Bangladesh will arrange a summit on trade and investment in Beijing during the three-day visit. Bangladesh has targeted to collect $700 crore funds from this summit.
According to the visit schedule, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will reach Beijing tomorrow (Monday). She is scheduled to meet her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang on Tuesday. Agreements and MoUs will be signed after the meeting. On Wednesday, Sheikh Hasina will meet President Xi Jinping. On the same day, she will also meet the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji.
About the prime minister’s China visit, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said China is the largest development partner of Bangladesh. This visit will focus on accelerating the development spree between the two countries. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit will be a historic event. Through this trip, the Bangladesh-China relationship will launch a new chapter. Her (Hasina) visit to China will be a game changer.
Diplomatic sources said that during the three-day visit, both sides will discuss trade, investment, agriculture, free trade agreement, electricity, fuel, education, the Rohingya crisis, reserve assistance etc. Implementation of infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and loan facilities to fill up the budget deficit will also be discussed during the visit. Bangladesh will seek China's cooperation in some projects of road, rail and bridge. Separate finance proposals have already been prepared for nine projects of the Road, Transport and Bridges Ministry and Railways Ministry. The projects include a rail line from Padma Bridge to Kuakata via Barisal and Payra Port and a project of metro rail. Bangladesh will propose China to finance seven projects of the power and fuel sector including constructing a gas pipeline from Moheskhali. Of these, the Moheskhali gas pipeline project will be under the Government to Government (G2G) method.
It is known that both countries will discuss the modernization of Mongla Port, regional trade, communication and increase of the facilities of the Mongla Port. The government wants to attract Chinese investment centering on the development of the Payra Sea Port. Officials of the Chinese government have already visited the Payra Port, Mongla Port and some other spots in the southern region.
The sources also said Bangladesh may seek Chinese cooperation for Rohingya repatriation. It also seeks China’s cooperation to join BRICS, which is an intergovernmental organization of countries with economic expansion comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh wants to join BRICS as either a full member or associate member in any format.
Analysts said if China favours, Bangladesh can easily join BRICS. Officials said China has already given the message that it wants to deepen its political ties and faith with Bangladesh. At the same time, Beijing wants more togetherness in the development strategies of the two countries, progress in cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative, acceleration of the implementation of global development initiatives, and take the bilateral relation to a new height through global security initiative.
Earlier in 2016, Bangladesh and China inked 27 MoUs during the Dhaka visit of Xi Xinping. China promised to provide a $40 billion donation, loan and investment during that visit. Later, in 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited China. She is scheduled to visit the country tomorrow after five years.
Summit on trade, business and investment opportunities between China and Bangladesh: Bangladesh will organize a summit on trade and investment in Beijing during the visit. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the summit to boost the Chinese investment in Bangladesh. The summit will find out the ways to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries. More than 1,000 Chinese investors will join at various business sessions of the summit. The Finance Ministry, Commerce Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCCI), and Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing jointly will arrange the summit.
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on July 7, 2024 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.
