Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh will visit China on March 26, 2024. He is expected to meet President Xi Jinping on March 28 following attendance at the Boao Forum for Asia. This visit highlights Bangladesh’s growing engagements with China amid India’s concerns about geopolitical dynamics in the region.
Muhammad Yunus, serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, is scheduled to visit China on March 26, as reported by Prothom Alo. His visit will mark his first engagement with China since assuming interim leadership on August 7, 2024, following the exit of Sheikh Hasina. Yunus may engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his stay in Beijing on March 28, according to diplomatic sources in Dhaka.
Prior to the bilateral meeting, Yunus is set to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) conference in Hainan province on March 25, following an invitation from BFA Secretary General Zhang Jun. In conjunction with celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, Chinese officials have invited Yunus to Beijing for high-level discussions once his itinerary is formally confirmed.
India is monitoring these developments closely, particularly in light of recent tensions in its relations with Bangladesh after Hasina’s ouster. Recent allegations made by India at a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva suggested that a UN report had highlighted the notion of “revenge violence against minorities” in Bangladesh.
Moreover, issues pertaining to Bangladesh were also discussed during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UK counterpart David Lammy on March 5. Notably, a 21-member delegation from Bangladesh that included political leaders and academics concluded a 10-day visit to China earlier, aiming to strengthen ties as Beijing extended loan repayment timelines and offered duty-free imports to Dhaka.
In summary, Muhammad Yunus’s forthcoming visit to China is significant as it represents his first official trip since taking over as Chief Adviser. The visit includes participating in vital discussions commemorating long-standing diplomatic relations while attracting scrutiny from India amid geopolitical tensions. This underscores the importance of Bangladesh’s foreign engagements, particularly in light of the recent political shifts within the country and its historical ties with nations like China.
Original Source: m.thewire.in
