Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, has departed for a four-day official visit to China.
The journey began on Wednesday, with Yunus boarding a special China Southern Airlines flight at 1:00 PM from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
This visit marks Yunus`s first bilateral trip to China since taking on his role in the interim government.
The primary aim is to strengthen the relationship between Bangladesh and China, with a series of high-level meetings planned.
The most anticipated meeting will take place on March 28, when Yunus is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this bilateral discussion will focus on various strategic matters.
Yunus is also expected to engage with the Executive Vice President of China’s State Council.
Shafiqul Alam, the Chief Adviser’s press secretary, shared more details, noting that Yunus will attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference on March 27.
Yunus will not only speak at the forum but is also likely to meet with other influential business leaders and political figures during the event, known as "Asia`s Davos."
While in China, Yunus will visit Peking University on March 29, where he is set to receive an honorary doctorate.
He will also take time to visit China’s high-tech parks, further strengthening ties in the fields of education and technology.
The visit comes at a crucial time for Bangladesh, as the Interim Government seeks to promote the country as a global manufacturing hub.
Alam stated that Yunus’s discussions with Chinese leaders will primarily focus on how to relocate Chinese factories to Bangladesh.
This aligns with the government`s goal of increasing local manufacturing capacity.
The press secretary also emphasized the growing interest in renewable energy.
In a previous meeting with China’s foreign minister, Yunus invited Chinese companies to invest in Bangladesh’s renewable energy sector.
This appeal has already borne fruit, with two Chinese companies agreeing to establish offices in Bangladesh and invest in solar energy projects.
Additionally, the visit aims to boost exports.
Yunus will discuss with Chinese officials the opportunity to export three major products from Bangladesh: mangoes, jackfruit, and guavas.
As Alam put it,
"The Chinese love mangoes, and they also really enjoy jackfruit. We expect to be able to export large quantities of jackfruit."
This, Alam believes, will open new export avenues for Bangladesh in the Chinese market.
Despite the positive prospects, Alam also noted that while no formal agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) may be signed.
As Yunus begins his diplomatic mission in China, the Interim Government hopes this visit will pave the way for increased investment, stronger trade relations, and broader cooperation between the two nations.
This is a pivotal moment for Bangladesh-China relations, and the outcomes of this trip could have long-lasting effects on both countries’ economic and diplomatic ties.
