Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus has said it is important for his country to see China as a ‘good friend’.
He made the comment while being interviewed by Xinhua news agency during his first trip to China after assuming charge as the head of the government in August last year, following ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster amid severe protests against her government.
“It’s very important that we see China as our good friend,” Yunus, a Nobel laureate, told Xinhua, amid a deterioration in ties with neighbouring India following the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League government.
“Our relationship has been very strong over the years. Our business is very strong and we benefit from our collaboration with China,” he said.
Yunus said his government hopes to create a renewed Bangladesh and that people in the South Asian country learn from China’s experience of developing the country.
As per the Xinhua news agency, China has been Bangladesh’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
“Bangladesh’s imports from China are increasing. The bulk of our industrial-use products come from China,” he said.
Cultural ties
“We can take it to the next stage where our collaboration is not limited to the economy only. It will be cultural,” he said.
Yunus on Friday met Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, in Beijing when they discussed issues related to bilateral ties.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, the meeting took place in the Great Hall of the People.
During his visit, Yunus reportedly urged China to reduce interest rates for loans from 3 percent to 1-2 percent, while also seeking a waiver on commitment fees for Chinese-funded projects.
The call was made yesterday during Yunus’s bilateral meeting with Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, reported The Daily Star.
Xi calls China a trustworthy neighbour
During the interaction, Xi said China continues to be a trustworthy neighbour, friend and partner of Bangladesh.
China maintains a high degree of stability and continuity in its good neighbour and friendly policy toward Bangladesh, Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties, and 2025 is also the year of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Xi said, while expressing the willingness to work with Bangladesh to push China-Bangladesh cooperation to a new level and bring more benefits to the two countries.
Xi said the two sides have always supported each other and treated each other as equals for win-win cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties, reported the Chinese news agency.
Yunus, who took charge of the interim government last year, marked his first bilateral state visit to China.
He has not visited India amid diplomatic tension with the neighbouring economic powerhouse.
Belt Road cooperation
Yunus’ press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, wrote on Facebook: “The two sides agreed to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen international cooperation on industrial and supply chains and work together to achieve modernization in both countries.”
“China will continue to support Bangladesh in improving infrastructure and advancing industrialization, and encourage Chinese companies to conduct investment cooperation with Bangladesh in such fields as textile and garment, clean energy, digital economy, agriculture and manufacturing in accordance with commercial principles and market-based approaches,” Alam said.
“Bangladesh welcomes Chinese companies to participate in the Mongla Port Facilities Modernization and Expansion Project, and stands ready to work with the Chinese side to further develop the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chattogram,” he said.
He said the two sides underscored the importance of initiating negotiations on the China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement at an early date and officially starting negotiations on optimising the China-Bangladesh Investment Agreement.
Nine agreements
The two countries signed nine agreements, including an agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the two governments and other cooperation documents on development, translation and publication of classics, exchanges and cooperation on cultural heritage, news exchange and media and health sector, media reports said.
The two countries signed eight MoUs on translation and production of classics, exchanges and cooperation on cultural heritage, news exchange, media, sports and health sectors, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.
